Feeling Bored as a Caregiver? Try These Ideas!

If you’re feeling bored as a caregiver, try these helpful suggestions.

It’s hard to admit but even harder to avoid. Feeling bored as a caregiver is a common response to spending so much time together, completing the same tasks, engaging in the exact same activities, and running out of intriguing conversation topics. This is not by any means associated with your feelings for the person in your care. In fact, they could be feeling just as tired of a stagnant routine.

How can you breathe renewed life into your caregiving relationship? Our care team has some ideas you can implement.

• Plan Something Fun. Brainstorm ideas for fun outings or new experiences you can plan together with your loved one. These could be as simple as trying a new café in town or traveling to a destination they have always wanted to visit but never had the chance. If traveling with the senior seems too daunting, consider bringing along an experienced caregiver from Hired Hands Homecare! We’re always here to help make dreams become a reality for the older adults we serve.
• Tap Into Your Imagination. Remember creating imaginary worlds of play as children? It can be just as fun as an adult! As you are waiting in the doctor’s office, take a look at the people around you, and then try to imagine an extraordinary story of their lives. Challenge the senior to do the same, and then share your stories during the drive home. Practicing mindfulness is another way to fully engage in the moment as opposed to dully observing from the sidelines. Use all five senses to experience your surroundings in a brand new and intriguing way.
• Celebrate! Don’t wait for a major holiday, birthday, or anniversary to help make life more interesting and fun! There are hundreds of unique and lesser-known holidays to pick from, for example, National Polar Bear Day, Toast Day, Tell a Fairy Tale Day, and Comfy Day – and those are only a few reasons to celebrate during the last week of February! Or why not designate your very own? All it requires is a little creative thinking as you look around your environment, select something you’re thankful for, and think of ways to make it the star of the day.
• Escape the Norm. Take a mental walk through the routines you have built, and think of ways to implement changes. Have you been preparing the same bowl of cereal every morning? Try doing a quick online search or pull out a few cookbooks and find an appealing new recipe to try with the individual in your care once weekly. In place of those morning talk or game shows, switch off the television and take a walk together. Drive a different route to the doctor’s office or beauty shop to see some new sights.

Let Hired Hands Homecare help by providing breaks from care that give you both the opportunity for experiences outside of each other’s company, allowing for interesting conversations to have when you are together again. Contact us at (866) 940-4343 for more information about our home care services in Novato, San Rafael, Petaluma, and throughout the Bay Area.