Warming Up with Your Senior on National Cocoa Day

By Jamie Shapiro | December 9, 2016 | Comments Off on Warming Up with Your Senior on National Cocoa Day

Elder Care in Buffalo Grove IL

There is nothing quite like a steaming mug of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. As a family caregiver it is simple things like that that can make the most difference in your care journey with your aging parent. Just taking a little bit of time away from your usual care routine and doing something together can make any day seem special.Elder-Care-in-Buffalo-Grove-IL

December 12 is National Cocoa Day. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to focus on spending special quality time with your aging parent. With the busyness of the holiday season distracting you and handling all of the items on your to-do list keeping you running, it is easy to feel disconnected from your parent during this time of year. Spending some time making holiday memories with them can help to re-bond your relationship and bring more meaning into your care experience with them.

 

Try some of these fun ways that you can spend a day with your loved one on National Cocoa Day:

  • Share holiday memories. Make up a batch of your favorite hot cocoa, curl up with cozy blankets on the sofa, and share holiday memories together. Talk about what you used to do for the holidays when you were a child and encourage your parent to tell you about their holiday celebrations when they were young. Enjoy the time to just talk, share, and connect. You might even discover some holiday traditions that you did not know about or had forgotten and that you can integrate back into your celebrations this year.
  • Create tasty gifts. Handmade gifts are a thoughtful way to show that you care about someone during the holidays. They are also a great way for your parent to take on some of their own gift-giving even if they have challenges and limitations that might make shopping too difficult. Create cocoa gifts by layering the ingredients to make homemade cocoa in a jar, topping with a piece of festive cloth, and adding a handmade gift tag with instructions for how to make a cup. You could also put all of the ingredients in a plastic bag, settle it in a mug, and add a chocolate-dipped spoon for a more substantial gift.
  • Save calories. You do not have to indulge in all of the calories and fat of cocoa to enjoy the festive smell. Try making your own bath and body products using chocolate scented oil to create a pampering experience that will not put your diet off track.

 

Starting elderly care for your aging parent can be a fantastic way to enhance their holiday season and their quality of life moving forward into the new year. An elderly home care services provider can step in to fill any care gaps that might arise when your schedule gets busy or you have limitations that keep you from being able to handle your parent’s needs in the way that they need and deserve. They can also help your parent to handle their holiday preparations and engage in holiday celebrations as much as is right for them while also ensuring that they stay safe, healthy, and comfortable. As a family caregiver this can give you peace of mind knowing that you can get done what you need to get done and enjoy your holiday season without worrying that your parent is not getting what they need or is disconnected from the celebrations. When it comes to keeping your aging parent’s mind active and engaged throughout the holiday season, and protecting their mental and emotional health from possible decline, this care provider can be truly invaluable. Dedicated companionship, fun activities, and making special memories can help your parent to ward off feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression, guide them through grief that might arise, and enable them to feel like an active, important element of the holidays.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Buffalo Grove, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

 

Jamie Shapiro
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