How do I Say Thank You to a Caregiver?

November has been designated as National Caregiver’s Month. What better way to celebrate than to take a look at all the ways care-givers make our life or the life of our loved one better!

The Role of a Caregiver
A caregiver is a person who takes care of someone who, because of an illness, disability, or injury, is experiencing difficulty in caring for him/herself. The scope of what a caregiver does is virtually limitless. A caregiver may pick up the mail and help get the bills paid or may give baths and change diapers. He may organize or administer medications or take someone to the doctor. She may do the grocery shopping and cook meals or just come over to chat and play cards.

“To understand the importance of a caregiver, think of health care as a three-legged stool. Family caregivers serve as one leg of the stool; professional caregivers (doctors, nurses, etc.) act as another; and the care recipient is the third leg. Without all three legs, health care cannot be as effective as it needs to be.”1

Ways to say THANK YOU to a caregiver
Saying thank you is an easy gesture that can make a lasting impact. Everyone wants to feel noticed and appreciated. Imagine being the person who tirelessly cares for another day in and day out. It would be easy to feel isolated and unnoticed.

If you or a loved one is being cared for by another, take the time to tell the person without whose help you could not manage that you see them, you notice what they are doing, you appreciate their help.

Write a note. Tell your caregiver how grateful you are that you are able to remain in your home instead of an assisted living facility or nursing home. Tell them that you are thankful for their care and attention. Be specific. Name the things your caregiver does that make it possible for you to live a more comfortable life.

Tell your caregiver that you are thankful for them. Speak the words. Being grateful and showing gratitude is good for the giver and the receiver. Don’t allow good and helpful things to go unnoticed. Point them out and tell your caregiver why the specific care they are providing is important to you.

Allow your caregiver some time for self-care. Often a caregiver is on duty long hours and is so closely tending to the needs of someone else that they have little time to disconnect or even do simple things for themselves. Make sure they get break times and down time regularly. Don’t allow them to reach a point of burn out. That can have a negative impact on both the giver and receiver of care.

If someone you love is in need of extra help in order to stay at home and maintain some level of normalcy or independence, contact The Key (formerly Home Care Assistance). Their holistic approach to caregiving is designed with you (or your loved one) in mind.

The Key offers The Balanced Care Method™, a 360-degree approach that does more than support daily tasks—it emphasizes what brings meaning to a client’s life and provides whole care for the whole person.

Every Care Plan is designed to reflect this holistic approach. Their expertly trained caregivers understand the importance of supporting each client’s passions, activities, and lifestyle, in addition to their daily care.

Backed by a Care Team of specialists, the Balanced Care Method helps The Key clients live longer, healthier, and happier in the home they love.

We provide hourly care and in-home 24-hour care for your loved ones. Get in touch with us now to learn more.

The Key
239-494-1039
www.thekey.com
1395 Panther Ln, #210, Napes, FL 34109
AHCA License #: HHA 299995190

Source:
1. “What is a Caregiver?” Johns Hopkins Medicine,
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/community_health/johns-hopkins-
bayview/services/called_to_care/what_is_a_caregiver.html.