Caregiving can be a wonderfully rewarding experience, but it's not without its challenges. Today, 45 million unpaid family caregivers are coordinating care for their loved ones, while still juggling personal, work, and family responsibilities. What are the best gifts for caregivers?
Because caregivers spend their time, money, and energy caring for loved ones, often without the support they truly need to get the job done without completely depleting their own mental and physical batteries, they deserve a little pampering.
This year we have expanded our list of gifts that not only focus on making the job of caregiving easier but also address the need for self-care for all the amazing caregivers out there.
The Gift of Time
More than anything, caregivers lack time. Stopping by mom and dad's house after work or running errands during a lunch break often means caregivers don't have time to prepare a proper meal or sit down and enjoy it with their family. Anything you can do to give them back a few hours in their day is always appreciated.
Hero Medication Dispenser, Manager, and Pill Organizer:
We all know medication management is important. However, it can also be time consuming task with caregivers filling and refilling pill organizers on a weekly basis and then stressing over whether or not their loved one is actually taking them when they should. Let Hero simplify this chore!
Caring Village App and Dashboard:
Sharing caregiving responsibilities may be the single most significant gift you could to the caregiver in your life. Coordinating care becomes faster and easier when you have the right tool for the job.
Caring Village is completely FREE to use for individuals and organizations. Caring Village helps caregivers become more organized, feel less stressed, and engage others to help with any tasks or activities that need to get done. Track wellness updates, create a centralized calendar, manage and assign to-do's, create daily care plans, and send messages to individuals or village-wide, all in the palm of your hand.
In-Home Care:
If you are unable to help in person, you can always volunteer to search online to find services and resources that will allow the primary caregiver a short break during the week, or offer to help pay for in-home care to give the primary caregiver a much needed break.
Shop Whole Foods Market on Amazon:
If you have the time, try putting together healthy, nutritious meals that caregivers can reheat quickly and easily. If you live far away, offer to cover or share the cost of groceries or simply take on the task of shopping so it's one less thing the primary caregiver has to do. Today, it's easier than ever before to shop from a distance!
AmazonFresh - Delivery of Whole Foods favorites like 365 Everyday Value, plus trusted national brands, produce, and meat. Exclusively for Prime Members in select zip codes.
Prime Pantry - Stock up on select 365 Everyday Value products in everyday pack sizes available online exclusively from Prime Pantry. Prime members get free shipping on all Prime Pantry orders $35 or more.
The Gift of Health and Wellness
It's easy to get so lost in the act of caring for someone else that you forget to prioritize your own needs, and as a result, being a caregiver may increase vulnerability to injury and illness. Wouldn't it be nice to help the caregivers in your life push self-care a little higher up on their priorities list?
Relaxation
According to the Mayo Clinic, relaxation is a process that decreases the effects of stress on the body and mind. Relaxation tools and techniques can have many benefits, including; slowing heart rate, lowering blood pressure, reducing muscle tension and chronic pain, improving digestion, and helping maintain normal blood sugar levels. In fact, relaxation can be one of the healthiest things to incorporate into your everyday life.
Neck and Back Massager:
This heated deep tissue massager is great for your back, neck, and shoulders and is portable enough to be used on the go. You control the heat and stimulation level to help ease neck stiffness, eliminate constant fatigue, soothe aching muscles, and promote proper blood circulation. Backed by a lifetime warranty.
Cost: $59.99*
Buy Now at Walmart
Spa Gift Basket:
Give the gift of pampering. Caregivers often prioritize everyon
e but themselves which makes a spa gift basket a wonderful way to encourage self-care. Help the caregiver in your life relax and unwind with soothing scents, bubble bath, moisturising creams, and more. You will find a wide range of sizes, price points and scents all beautifully packaged when you shop at Walmart. Fast shipping!
Cost: $15-$75*
Shop Now at Walmart
Gratitude Gift Set:
If there's a sibling, other family member or professional caregiver that handles most of the caregiving for your loved one, here's a gentle reminder that they often feel underappreciated. What better way to express your appreciation than with a gift they'll see and use every day. This appreciation gift set it the perfect way to express your gratitude!
Cost: $34.99*
Buy Now at Amazon
Gifts to Help Caregivers Care for Their Loved One
Enduring Alzheimer's: Practical Tips for Caring for Your Loved One and Yourself
Written by experts who understand first-hand what caregivers are going through, this book is packed full of resources and actionable steps including information about:
- What is Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia?
- How Caregiving Affects You and Your Family?
- How to Prepare to Be a Caregiver for a Loved One with Alzheimer's
- How Technology Can Help
- How to Formulate Your Caregiving
- PlanHow to Care for Yourself While Providing Care
- How to Keep Your Loved One Physically Safe
- How to Keep Your Loved One Safe Financially
- Managing Medical Issues
- Medical Insurance
- Legal Concerns
- Financial Concerns
- Research and Prevention
- End of Life Care
Cost: $9.99 Kindle Version | $24.95 Paperback
Buy Now at Amazon
AngelSense Elderly GPS Tracker and App:
The AngelSense GPS Tracker is a unique offering that combines a GPS tracker and mobile app with a monthly service plan that includes unlimited notifications, full-day location updates, late departure warnings, email alerts, and real-time technical support. This solution is perfect for individuals with Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and other memory problems as it helps prevent wandering and mistreatment while promoting independence and reducing family caregiver stress and anxiety. The AngelCall feature also allows families to talk to their elderly loved one directly without the need for them to “pick-up” the device.
For a limited time, AngelSense is offering a FREE GPS Watch. Don't miss out!
Wireless Bed Alert System:
It's difficult for caregivers to get a good night's sleep if they're constantly worried about their loved one getting up in the middle of night and possibly falling. This Lunderg Bed Alarm System helps caregivers rest easy knowing that they'll get an alert before their loved one gets out of bed. The bed sensor pad connects wirelessly to the handheld monitor with a range of 300 feet. Fully adjustable alert volume from vibrate only to low, medium or to high. The perfect gift for family caregivers!
Cost: $124.95*
Buy Now at Walmart
Adaptive Clothing:
Dressing a loved one with limited mobility can be a challenge. Adaptive clothing is designed with the dressing needs of the elderly and disabled in mind. With features like Velcro™ closures and magnetic buttons, flat seams that overlap and tagless options to allow more comfort on the skin, adaptive clothing could be a make dressing a loved one so much easier.
Cost: $14.00+
Buy Now
CallToU Wireless Caregiver Pager Smart Call System:
This unit comes with two pagers and two call buttons making it easy for caregivers to move freely around the house while still knowing that their loved one can reach them if they need assistance. The pager has 55 ring tones to choose from and an operating range of 500+ feet in open area. These are easy to use and the receiver plug directly into an electrical outlet. Different sized systems available.
Cost: $50.99*
Buy Now at Amazon
Because Incontinence Underwear:
Because Market offers an extensive product line with some of the highest absorbency incontinence products we've found to date. Caregivers have enough on their plate. Why not help them reduce the amount of laundry they do each week?
Take their Perfect Fit Quiz to get a Free Trial Today!
Dignified Adult Bib:
The Classy Pal adult clothing protector “bibs” were designed with full lap and chest protection at a large 18” wide x 35” long . All protectors have bottom snaps that allow for optional crumb catcher and/or pocket when needed. The bibs are composed of the finest soft terry cloth material with a waterproof inner lining to help under clothes stay clean when spills happen. The clothing protectors feature a 2.5” velcro closure for strong hold and easy length adjustment. For many adult senior citizens wearing a bib is demoralizing, but now your loved one can feel dignified, confident and beautiful. 2 per package.
Need More Gift Ideas?
For other great gift ideas be sure to check out our Best Gifts for Someone with Dementia or Alzheimer’s and Best Gifts to Help Caregivers Care for Their Loved One articles.