Sick loved ones over holidays can be stressful

Holidays are meant to be a celebratory time that creates lasting memories.Many people enjoy spending time with family and friends honoring their many traditions.However, if you are caring for a loved one who is seriously ill, it can be challenging to balance caregiving responsibilities while preparing for the upcoming holidays. You may feel overwhelmed, but with support, you and your family can still enjoy meaningful and joyful experiences during this holiday season.At Care Dimensions, our team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers witness the stress that many family caregivers experience at this time of year. We’d like to offer these suggestions to help minimize your stress and enhance the quality of time you spend with family and friends:First, balance your time with others with some time alone. Both are important. Solitude can provide you with time and space to think about how well you are doing. Focus on all the good things you are doing today for your loved one rather than dwelling on when he or she may not be there to share time with you.Don’t abandon healthy habits. Make sure to eat regular meals, try to get quality sleep and try to get exercise. Do whatever you can. Physical activity is a good way to release the tension that builds around this time of year.Have some fun. Don’t isolate yourself, keep in contact with friends. Arrange for someone to stay with your loved one while you see a movie or go to lunch.Keep your schedule simple. Commit only to events you feel are important and say no to the rest. Give yourself permission to do only what you can reasonably manage.Make new traditions. Have a potluck dinner, order the meals from a restaurant, stay at home instead of traveling.Be kind to yourself; recognize that you are doing your best.Talk about some of your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust.Try to remember that you cannot change the current situation, but you can change the way you approach the holiday season.Enjoy the special moments. A lot of love and laughter can be shared together this year. Focus on the here and now for all its simple pleasures and beauty.You are not alone. Care Dimensions understands that the emotional side of advanced illness is often more devastating than the disease itself.Support for family and caregivers is a hallmark of our comprehensive services, which address complex medical issues as well as emotional, spiritual and family concerns.We also provide support and training for professional caregivers and offer free community educational workshops on a variety of topics.Dr. Stephanie Patel, MD, is Care Dimensions of Danvers’ vice president and chief medical officer. Care Dimensions can be reached at 888-283-1722 or at [email protected].