Unmotivated attractive young woman preparing the dinner leaning on the hob eyeing the camera with a listless glum expression as she stands in her kitchen in an apronIt’s not easy to admit, and it’s even less easy to avoid. Becoming tired of your role as family caregiver is a common response to spending a great deal of time together, performing the same tasks, participating in the same activities, and running out of interesting conversation topics. Of course, this isn’t a reflection of how you feel about the person you care for. In fact, they might be feeling just as bored with a stagnant routine.
How can you breathe renewed life into your caregiving relationship after encountering caregiver boredom? Our care team has some ideas you can implement.
Celebrate! You don’t need an excuse to make life more fun! There are countless unique and lesser-known holidays to choose from, for example, National Polar Bear Day, Tell a Fairy Tale Day, Toast Day and Comfy Day – and those are just a handful of reasons to celebrate during the last week of February! Or why not designate your own? All it takes is just a little creative thinking as you look around your environment, select something you are thankful for, and think of ways to make it the star of the day.
Tap Into Your Imagination. Do you remember how powerful your imagination was as a child? It can be just as fun as an adult and a great way to avoid caregiver boredom! As you are waiting in the doctor’s office, take a look at the people around you, and then try to imagine an extraordinary story of their lives. Challenge the senior to do the same, and then share your stories on the drive home. Practicing mindfulness is yet another strategy to fully take part in the moment rather than dully observing from the sidelines. Use all five senses to experience your surroundings in a new and intriguing way.
Escape the Norm. Mull over the routines you’ve developed as a caregiver, and consider ways you can implement changes. Have you been preparing the same bowl of cereal every morning? Try doing a quick search on the internet or pull out a few cookbooks and find an appealing new recipe to try with the person in your care once a week. Instead of talking about the news in the morning, consider taking a morning walk. Drive a new route to the doctor’s office or beauty salon to see some new sights.
Plan Something Fun. Come up with new ideas for exciting outings and different experiences you can have together. These could be as simple as trying a new café in town or traveling to a destination they have always wished to visit but never had the chance. If traveling with the person seems too challenging, consider bringing along a professional caregiver from JFS Care! We are always here to help make dreams come true for the older adults we serve.
Let the JFS Care team, provider of the best home health in Los Angeles and the nearby areas, help you avoid caregiver boredom by providing breaks from care that give both of you the opportunity for experiences outside of each other’s company, allowing for pleasurable conversations to have when you are together again. Contact us online or at 213-383-2273 to get started!