Do something special for caregivers on Mother’s Day
May 5, 2011
When it comes to caring for loved ones, women are the ones who are most likely to bear the responsibility. The Shriver Report found that 60 percent of Alzheimer’s caregivers are female. Many are also looking after children at the same time.
Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday, and families should consider using this holiday as a chance to show how much they appreciate everything a mom is doing each day.
The Huffington Post suggests that one of the greatest gifts that can be given is respite – offer to take over a mother’s responsibilities for a few hours or days. That could mean watching over a grandparent or parent while the primary caregiver gets some much-needed rest, or just babysitting the kids.
Families could also try to find a support group with people that are also going through what their mom is going through. This can help her feel less isolated in her duties, and may reduce the burden.
Offering a way to better keep a senior safe – in the form of a device such as a personal emergency response system – may also be a welcome surprise. Medical alert systems can be used to instantly send a medical alert to call centers if assistance is required.
The National Family Caregivers Association estimates that there are more than 65 million Americans tending to a loved one across the country.
