This time of year it seems as if you only hear one question: “What do you want for Christmas or Hanukkah?” We’ve come up with some gift ideas for the family caregiver.
1. Coupons for a monthly massage.
2. A gift certificate to pay for four hours of companion or home health aide service.
3. Payment to cover two days at the local adult day center, so you’ll have two days to enjoy.
4. Arrangements by family to care for your caree one Saturday afternoon every month, so you can enjoy the college basketball games or an afternoon of window-shopping.
5. Your favorite movies on DVD that you can enjoy during the long winter months. And, to keep your DVD shelf stocked, a subscription to Netflix.
6. A gift certificate to your favorite bookstore.
7. A donation in your name to the charity that supports you and your caree.
8. Four hours of help around the house one Saturday a month.
9. Relaxation tapes and videos that you and your caree can enjoy together.
10. Theatre tickets—and arrangements to care for your caree during your night on the town.
11. Gift certificates to cover the cost of two months of Internet usage—so you can keep exploring the resources and support available on the Internet.
12. Gift certificates for take-out to your favorite restaurants so you can take a few nights off from cooking.
13. A prepaid phone card so you can keep in touch with friends from out-of-town and contact relatives when you need more help and support.
14. Payment toward coaching sessions with Denise.
Inside Our Holiday Survival Guide
—The Chocolate’s Okay, But I Melted
—Ten Signs an Aging Relative Needs Help
—Bah Humbug? A True Tale of Christmas
—Listen to Managing Your Holiday Stress teleclass (Before listening, a little homework for you: What do you dread about the holiday season? What’s one wish you have for yourself? One wish you have for your caree? This teleclass was originally recorded in 2009.)
—Take our free webinar, “Say Yes to the Best Holiday Ever by Saying No.” (This webinar originally aired in 2010.)
—Holiday Spent: Creating and Sticking to a Holiday Spending Plan (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)
—Sharing the Holidays with Unhappy Family Members (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)
—Facing the Holiday Fantasy (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2010)
—Holiday Healing: Stop the Games But Form a Team (Your Caregiving Journey talk show, originally aired in 2009)
You are a disruptor. The delivery of health care starts with you, continues because of you, and ends with you. Let's disrupt together to make the world better for family caregivers. 
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