Caregiving Changes Holiday Plans

A Holiday Reflection from The Caregiver CEO

Around the world, families are packing bags, boarding planes, and hitting the road to be together for the Easter. I remember those days when I was a child, dressed in my best pastel polyester outfit, white gloves, and shiny patent leather shoes, headed from New York to Pennsylvania to see my grandmother, or over to New Jersey to visit Aunt Mae. 

But for many family caregivers, holidays look a little different.

Caregiving doesn’t take a vacation. It doesn’t pause for celebrations or hold off until after the holiday meal. It continues, quietly, faithfully, and sometimes invisibly.

I remember the year I tried to plan a holiday trip with my husband. I had spent days calling dialysis centers in the town we were visiting, trying to find a time slot that would let him get treatment and still be home in time for dinner. I packed, cleaned, filled the car with gas. I was determined to make it work.

And then 30 minutes before we were to hit the road came the medical emergency. The kind doctors can’t quite explain. The kind that changes everything. We had to cancel. Again.

It was in that moment I realized: I couldn’t travel with him anymore. The risk of being stranded in an out-of-town hospital or on the side of a highway was too great. From that day on, we stayed close to home. And while I was grateful the emergency happened before we left, it didn’t make the disappointment any easier.

If this sounds like your story, or the story of someone you love, please know you're not alone. And while you may not be able to bring your loved one to the holiday gathering, you can bring the holiday to them.

5 Ways to Support a Family Caregiver This Holiday Season:

1. Drop off a plate – Bring a warm meal or holiday treats to their home.

2. Include them virtually – Set up a video call so they can be part of the celebration.

3. Send a care package – Include cozy socks, snacks, a candle, or a handwritten note.

4. Offer respite – Even two hours so they can rest, take a walk, or run an errand can mean the world.

5. Acknowledge their role – Sometimes, just saying “I see you, and I know this is hard,” is the greatest gift.

5 Ways to Make the Holiday Special as a Caregiver:

1. Create a cozy moment – Light a candle, play soft music, and sip something warm. Let that be your peace.

2. Set the table anyway – Even if it’s just for two, use your favorite dishes or a festive napkin to mark the occasion.

3. Start a new tradition – Watch a holiday movie together, look through old photos, or write down what you’re grateful for.

4. Ask for help, even in small ways – A friend can drop off dessert, or a neighbor might help run an errand.

5. Give yourself grace – You’re doing sacred work. Rest when you can. Laugh when you feel like it. Cry when you need to.

I cried the day I knew we wouldn’t be able to travel together anymore and then I decided to try to make the best of it by focusing on enjoying our time together, watching old movies, eating the food my daughter brought over, napping and laughing.

This holiday and every holiday, let’s remember that love isn’t just shared at the table, it’s shared in the act of seeing and supporting one another, especially those who give care every single day.

— Theresa Robertson, The Caregiver CEO