Tips to Keep the Stress Out of Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is almost here and it would be easy for all of us Sandwich Generation senior home care givers to start getting stressed and anxious. Too many of us feel that everything has to be done, and done perfectly, when the reality is, that simpler is easier and less stressful for all. The most important part of the holidays really should be connecting with each other. Here are a few simple tips to have a more enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner and visit with friends and family.

Plan Ahead

While planning the Thanksgiving meal, do you plan who is going to help?  Instead of doing it all yourself, ask friends and family to help.  This is especially important for senior home care givers. I don’t know about you, but in my season of life, I can’t guarantee anything for sure.   So I always plan backups of backups. Asking others to help is one of the easiest ways to accomplish that.  Make a list of what needs done before everyone arrives.  Give everyone something to do and assign things that are age appropriate to the children.  Even plan the after-dinner cleanup and leftover divisions. Before you know it, the leftovers will be wrapped in foil and everyone will have had a great time.

Covered Dish Meal

If you are having or attending a large group get-together for Thanksgiving, divide the menu between all who are attending. The host family can provide the main dish (turkey or ham) and the drinks. Each of the other families can bring a favorite side dish and dessert. If you want to make sure there is a variety, provide a menu and mark things off as people choose what they want to fix.  I’ve done this successfully with both Bible study pot lucks and family get-togethers. This year, I am bringing a yummy pumpkin pie and my specialty salad.

Simplify

As I said before, simplifying is good. Instead of having a huge feast, prepare a smaller meal.  We all tend to overeat at Thanksgiving, so make an effort to make fewer dishes.  Not only will the preparation be smaller, so will our waistlines.  Our family rarely makes stuffing anymore. We all love it, but it is fattening and with all the other goodies, we never miss it.

Another option is to prepare as much ahead of time as you can. Slow cookers can be used to make all kinds of foods, even desserts.  Many things can also be made as “freezer meals” and stored for weeks before re-heating them.  The less actual cooking you need to do on Thanksgiving, the lower your stress levels will be.

Be Thankful

Simply taking the time to be thankful for all our blessings can reduce our stress levels.  I like to make place cards for each person with Bible verses of thanksgiving. I also love the custom where everyone shares 1-3 things they are thankful for, either before or after dinner.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Do you love flowers as much as I do? And have you ever noticed that when you take a moment to stop and smell them, it seems to help relax you. You might want to add some Thanksgiving Flowers to your plan.  In fact, add holiday flowers to your list BEFORE the holiday and stop and enjoy them for a second or two throughout the preparation process.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Following your plan, including stopping to smell the Thanksgiving flowers, means you really can enjoy a more peaceful and happy Thanksgiving even in the midst of senior home care giving!

What do you do when an aging parent is ill? Obviously, if it is something major, you would call 911 or head for the hospital. For less serious, but still misery-inducing, illnesses like a nasty head cold or a tummy upset, there are plenty of ways to help and encourage them, whether you live near or far away.

Up close and personal senior home care:

• If your schedule allows, ask if they’d like you to spend a day or two with them at their house. Then you can easily keep up with the dishes, empty their tissue-filled wastebaskets, and help them in a myriad of little ways, just as they did for us when we were young.
• Make sure they have a good supply of foods they like to eat when they are sick. Also, check on whether they need more over the counter medicines as well as refills of any of their prescriptions. Humidifiers, vaporizers, or thermometers might be needed as well.
• Aging parents often put off going to the doctor, even when they should go. Keep a close eye on their symptoms and make sure they go in if it is needed.
• If they are feeling really crummy, it might cheer them up to receive a lovely bouquet of flowers. You might also bring some books, crossword puzzles, magazines, or a new DVD to cheer them up.

If your beloved senior lives far away, you could:

• Make a Smilebox card or send an ecard from Dayspring or Hallmark to cheer them up. Make sure they are up to using their computer first though.
• Even though you are too far away to take them to the doctor’s, it can still be wise to monitor their symptoms and encourage them to go to the doctor’s if necessary.
• Sending them a bouquet of flowers won’t be cheap but it could be such a day brightener, it’s often worth it.
• Use Amazon to send them a book or DVD. If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, it can arrive as quickly as the next business day for only $3.99 shipping (or free in the next two business days)!
• If they live in an area that offers grocery store delivery options, ask for a list and send them some sick-friendly foods like chicken noodle soup and saltine crackers. For that matter, Amazon’s grocery department carries both Chicken Noodle Soup and Saltine Crackers and works with Prime shipping!:)
• If their illness looks like it will be prolonged, help them get signed up for Meals on Wheels.

Just knowing you are “there” for them and care about them, whether close of far away, can give them the boost they need to feel better quickly. And that’s the best gift of all!