We give and receive gifts year-round. As we age and arthritis starts to creep into the fingers, though, unwrapping a paper-wrapped gift with tape all over it becomes more difficult. I became aware of this, earlier on, with my grandparents and parents. And now, it's becoming a reality for me as well. So, today, I'm presenting a few tips that may help you or the seniors in your life. image courtesy of freestocks via Unsplash Gifts wrapped with paper are easier to unwrap if less tape is used, allowing enough room for the finger to slip into the overlap and tear the paper. Place gift inside a decorative box with gift tissue or confetti to conceal the gift under the lid. No tape required! Place gift inside a decorative bag with gift tissue over the gift to hide it. No tape required! We all like to surprise the recipient of our gifts, but there are easier presentations than taped up paper. This is not only easier for the senior for unwrapping purposes, but it's also easier for t
Although, you have may have placed your senior in assisted living, in a nursing home, or with in-home care, you're still going to be busy with a lot of stuff in your senior's life. So, this is a very important tip for both you and your senior. Make sure you have time for yourself to rest, unwind, enjoy the things you enjoy doing, and doing the things you need to do in your life. Learn about self love. Believe it or not, self love is not selfish as many of us are taught to believe.
Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema via UnSplash
If you don't make this time for yourself, you will become burned out, most likely be sick much of the time, and extremely fatigued. None of this is good for you or your senior. So, even if the senior still puts a lot of demands on you to help even when they're paying for the help you're unable to do, saying, "No," or, "I can do that next week," or, "You're paying the other caregivers to do that," is perfectly fine. Don't be unkind about it, of course. Say everything in a kind way and add anything else that will caringly soften the blow.
I say this because I was just doing all the demands that were thrown at me, and all the while, my hair was falling out, I was losing weight, and my nerves were shot. I had zero energy to do the things for my family that I needed to do - like keep our house clean.
Some of you may be involved with a senior who doesn't want to hear those answers. Let me introduce you to a book I've read recently that helped me overcome the burden of guilt because my senior wanted me to spend my every waking moment doing things for them. The book is by Joyce Meyer and is about overcoming Approval Addiction with God's help. Contrary to what you may be told by people in your life who make many demands on you, you aren't a bad person if you can't meet all their requests. You're one person, so you have to behave like one person. It's that simple. It's okay! God won't put more on you than you can handle, but many people don't care how much they put on you. Realize that their demands aren't God's demands. Yes, He does expect kindness towards----- but not abuse from----- those you're trying to help. And if the relationship does become abusive - even verbally - you have permission to walk away. Trust that God has put them in the right hands through the other caregivers He has brought into your lives.
Have a blessed day,
Patricia
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