Show You Care! 10 Thoughtful Holiday Gifts for Caregivers

While the holidays can be a joyful time spent with family and friends, it can also add stress to someone caring for a loved one on a health journey.

Whether a family caregiver is a spouse, child, sibling, relative or a friend, taking care of someone can often be an overwhelming and thankless task. This is especially true for those who care for someone with long-term needs.

During the season of gift-giving, putting thought into a gift for the family caregiver in your life shows them that you care. Gifts don’t have to be expensive or elaborate. As with any gift, it’s the thought that counts. Even small tokens of appreciation can make an impact on caregivers who are dedicated to looking after a person who needs help.

Caregivers rank chores, food, financial assistance, personal care, and transportation as the most important categories of support [Source: Smith 2020] and the CaringBridge community offered insight into the most meaningful gifts they’ve given or received during a health journey. Check out these 10 thoughtful ideas to make the holidays a little brighter for the family caregiver in your life.

1. Time Off for Caregivers

The gift of time can be a very meaningful way to show how much you appreciate the time and effort a relative or friend spends on caring for their loved one. What many family caregivers want, if possible, is time off to rest and recharge. A spa trip or a gift card for a massage are options to give for a relaxing time away.

However, offering a caregiver some vital “me time” doesn’t have to involve a physical gift, either.

“When my husband and I  were taking care of my father, I had a few friends who were willing to come stay with him once in awhile so my husband and I could have quality time together.”

Alexis C.L.

“I am the 24/7 caregiver for my husband the past 2 years. Best gift was my kids coming together and helping so I could take a vacation with friends.”

Barbara P.K.

Once this selfless caregiver escapes their normal routine and gets some time to care for themselves, they can return refreshed and rejuvenated.

You can also offer to be your relative or friend’s personal holiday gift shopper. Offer to shop for and wrap the gifts on their list so they don’t need to spend precious time rushing around to different stores to fulfill their list.

2. Caregiver Gift Baskets

Gift baskets of holiday treats, flowers, pampering bath items, or a unique advent calendar will brighten a tired caregiver’s outlook.

• Order a holiday-themed treat basket from Harry & David or Gourmet Gift Baskets—or send the caregiver in your life Sunshine in a Box to brighten their day.
• Flowers have been been scientifically proven to increase the happiness chemicals in our brain, and can be ordered online and delivered almost anywhere. They can add a festive holiday element to any home.
• We all need a little pampering now and then, especially the caregiver in your life. Give them the gift of self-care with a basket from Olive & Cocoa, L’Occitane, or Blissful Balance.
• Advent calendars can add a little sparkle to winter days—order one based on your loved one’s interests from companies such as Williams Sonoma, Harry & David, Bonne Maman, Liberty Beauty, or Godiva, and give them something to look forward to all month long.

Or, create your own custom gift basket, including these great ideas from current and former family caregivers:

• Wine
• Gift cards (Amazon, groceries, house cleaning, gas, favorite restaurants)
• Personalized and unique pillows covers, blankets, puzzles, etc.
• Comfortable clothes
• Self-care items (Lotions, face masks, candles, essential oils)

“A snack basket! As a caregiver for my granddaughter going through a bone marrow transplant, my parents brought me a basket of snacks (a lot of different kinds) and some stationery items. It was great!”

Cyndi D.

“Tea… aromatherapy… hand and foot lotions… books.”

Teresa B.

“I am a quilter/sewer and have made or purchased table runners or a placemat set for a kitchen table. I’ve also given a wreath for a front door (a red, white and blue one can be given to a man) which can be decorative but with artificial flowers in case of allergies.”

M.R.

Note: When sending flowers, nuts, candy or anything similar, make sure the recipient is not allergic to any of these items.

3. Meals

Sharing meals with loved ones during the holiday season can be a comforting tradition. But cooking and planning meals can add mounds of stress to a caregiver’s already hectic life. Bringing over homemade meals and holiday treats, supplying eating utensils and even doing something fun like ordering pizza delivery while helping hang holiday decorations are all super helpful ways to make your loved one’s days easier and brighter. You may also consider treating your caregiver to a dinner at their favorite local restaurant.

“Food! When my daughter was battling cancer I greatly appreciated when her friends or my family brought us meals. I struggled to find time, energy or means to cook. Her friends took turns bring us prepared dishes. It was a Godsend.”

Amy Elizabeth A.

“My best gift was my stepdaughter making Thanksgiving dinner for us at our place.”

Wayne R.

4. Child Care/Pet  Watching

A gift that doesn’t cost you anything but is often priceless to a caregiver— babysitting. Offer to take over childcare or pet-sitting duties for your friend or family member so they can take time to do some holiday shopping on their own if they wish, go on a date with their partner, attend a holiday party, or even use one of their other gifts (like a massage).

5. Smiles and Hugs

There are few things cozier or more comforting than a big hug from a loved one during the holidays. Several of our respondents mentioned that hugs and smiles offer a sense of comfort (not to mention reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and many other benefits). It may seem like a small thing to do, but the rewards can be big.

“A thank you or a smile is all I need! It’s one of the hardest things! So hard to see a loved one go through tough times with cancer, Alzheimer’s  or anything!! Love and hugs to everyone that gives their heart and time to someone in need!”

Laurie T.

6. Monetary Support

Offering the gift of money may at first not sound like the most thoughtful gift, but that’s not true. Caregivers often bear the burden of their loved one’s health care costs, and financial support may be critical at this time.

However, you don’t have to hand over cash to be helpful. You can get creative with this type of support as well.

“When I was taking care of my momma, someone helped pay my car payment for 2 months. It was a blessing.”

Amy R. N.

“A group of us just donated to a college friend’s heart and lung transplant fund.”

Ronique J.

Another idea is to ask your loved one where the costs add up the most. For instance, hospital parking can be surprisingly costly – offering to fundraise or help cover specific costs that add up can be enormously helpful – and add some extra thoughtfulness to the gesture.

You can also start a GoFundMe for a caregiver to help cover a broad range of caregiver needs like medical costs, as well as those small daily costs that add up over time like groceries, childcare, home improvement, and more. To do this, you can connect your GoFundMe to a CaringBridge page. This is a great way to help a caregiver’s loved ones and support network become more involved.

You can create a fundraiser tailored to your caregiver’s needs. Whether it be raising money for a month’s worth of food, a self-care weekend, or to help cover the cost of their child’s college tuition, this is a thoughtful way to give back to a caregiver. The holidays can be a generous time of year for many people, and giving back to someone you love is a gift for you as well.

7. Quality Time

Reach out. Be there. Show up. Caregivers need someone to check on them and offer a few kind words or a funny story. They often make their care recipient their #1 priority – caretakers deserve to be made a priority too.

“The gift of time from loved ones is the greatest gift of all.”

Joan W.

“On the last year she cared for me, I surprised [my caregiver]and gave her a guardian angel and a heart bracelet to measure her heart rate.,  I gave what I could because I knew it would make her happy.”

Eugene K.

“A friend of mine sat with me one afternoon while I was taking care of my mother-in-law. We were all looking at mail-order catalogs. She got us interested by asking questions like, “what would you pick on THIS page?” She did that on various pages. A few days later she stopped by the house and dropped off 2 or 3 items we unknowingly ‘picked out!’”

L.S.

Whether this looks like a holiday movie night in with hot cocoa or a long chat on the phone, the time you offer your loved one will show them how much you appreciate all their hard work.

8. Prayers and Meditations

Knowing that the people closest to you are thinking of you and keeping you in their thoughts and prayers even when you’re not together is a great comfort for many caregivers. If you’re religious and belong to a church community, consider including the caregiver in your life in a prayer list. You may also consider dedicating a meditation to your loved one.

“As a caregiver, I was given a prayer shawl… anything sentimental that leaves you with memories is great.”

Wayne R.

9. Caregiver Support Groups

Family caregivers carry a lot on their shoulders, and they may need help taking some of that weight off. If they are interested, you may help your caregiver find a local support group. These support groups are designed to support caregivers in any capacity. Sometimes all a caretaker needs is a shoulder to lean on, and you may be able help them find that assistance.

“Host a caregivers’ support group…Our church offers a monthly support gathering for CGs — during one of the Sunday morning times slots. It’s a time to share w/others who truly understand – laugh, cry, and pray together. The church gives a small budget so the host can give them gifts from time to time. She also helps them focus on a theme for the year, with handouts, etc.”

Gladys D.

10. A Handwritten Note

The holidays are the perfect time of year to express your gratitude and thanks in the form of a simple handwritten note. The best gifts for caregivers are often those that come from the heart. When thanking someone for their support, remember to be as specific as possible. You may tell a story of your favorite holiday memory you’ve shared with them. You may also thank them for being there for your family in a time of need.

“During my husband’s cancer journey, our dear friend sends us encouraging cards each week. She includes scriptures full of God’s love and assurances that He is always with us. This kindness is at the top of our blessings and proves a friend’s thoughtfulness can be the best gift in these challenging times.”

Pat A.

What Are Your Best Holiday Caregiver Gift Ideas?

Have you ever given a caregiver gift that was a big hit with the recipient (or received something amazing)? Please share it with our readers to give them inspiration!