Caregiver Survival Tips.

Caregiver Survival Tips. Here are some tips for helping you, as a spousal family caregiver, to cope with the stresses incurred during the Christmas holidays:

• Maintain your regular routine. It is critical for both your loved one -- and for yourself.

• Maintain a positive mental attitude. Holidays are for memories and reflection as well as joy.

• Permit yourself to say "no" to obligations or invitations that may come your way.

• Permit yourself to ask for, and say "yes" to, offers of assistance for you and your loved one.

• Encourage family and friends to visit but minimize the number of visitors to at any one time.

• Prepare activities or tasks to divert your loved one's attention to prevent over-stimulation.

• Take the opportunity to be with family and friends with or without your loved one.

• Talk of past good times and special memories.

• Plan small gatherings earlier in the day to facilitate your loved one's participation.

• Involve the loved one in setting up the Christmas tree and decorations.

• If your loved one is in a nursing facility, visit in small groups rather than one large one.

The Christmas holidays can be stressful for both you and your loved one. Planning ahead will reduce that stress.