What’s the perfect gift for caregivers?

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Alone time. If you have any caregivers in your life that you want to remember this holiday season, providing respite care could be the most appreciated gift of all. Often caregivers put aside their own needs and are consumed with caring for the needs of the loved ones in their care. This personal neglect can impact both physical and emotional health. Offer to give a caregiver an afternoon or even a weekend off, so they can recharge their batteries. If you are not comfortable providing the care yourself, hire a reputable caregiver or see if there’s a local respite care facility in your area.

If your loved one is in a facility, don’t forget about those hardworking and usually underpaid staff members. Bring by a fruit basket or even a homemade treat to show your thanks. Or consider donating your time to a local non-profit that assists seniors and others needing supervised care. You can find more holiday gift ideas on the Atlanta Holiday Guide and this caregiver gift guide published in Pulse.

If you would like to honor a caregiver or a facility that goes the extra mile to care for your loved ones, we encourage you to submit your caregiver story. All submissions will be considered for publication.

For those of you that are caregivers, what recommendations do you have to help those seeking alone time while caring for a loved one, especially during the hectic holiday season?