Expressing Gratitude for Caregivers

At one point or another in each of our lives, we’ll need someone to help give us care. It could be after the birth of a child, during a period of illness, or simply as we continue to age. Those caregivers are instrumental in each of our lives, and at some point, we may each become caregivers. Caregiving can be a thankless, exhausting task, and simultaneously a rewarding journey. However, the caregivers in our lives often go on with their lives and routines in a thankless role, and that can be a huge burden.

We spend a lot of time here talking about how to simplify caregiving, ways to care for your loved ones, or fun things to do season to season, but we don’t talk about your caregiver specifically as much. Gratitude and thanks are a critical part of caregiver mental health and can help you keep on going, even when things get tough.

There are a few easy ways to make sure your caregiver(s) feel cared for and appreciated, and it’s easy to make sure they know they matter. Today we’ll talk through a few practical tips for sharing your gratitude, as well as why supporting your caregiver is so important.

Thank Yous Matter!

We’ve all spent our lives being told to say thanks (sometimes even habitually, without really meaning it) and it’s easy to forget the impact of a genuine, heartfelt gesture of gratitude.

For those providing care, it’s especially important. Feeling and experiencing gratitude (both internally and externally) improves caregiver mental health. In short, gratitude is great for both you and the person you’re thanking!

Gratitude reduces stress both for you and your caregiver. Spend some time writing out why you’re thankful for your caregiver and read your list together. It’ll help you both feel great, boost your moods, and help your caregiver know how appreciated they are.

If you need an easy solution to communicate gratitude, pop over to your Feed in the Avanlee App and share your thoughts there!

Show your thanks

Gratitude comes in a variety of forms and often doesn’t have to be a huge grand gesture to make an impact. If you’re able, you can bake the caregivers in your life a batch of their favorite cookies, write them a letter, or make their favorite snack. Even knitting them something or sitting down with them and just enjoying quality time can make a difference!

Finally, something as simple as a text message can have a great impact on a caregiver’s overall mental health and wellbeing. If you’re not into baking or aren’t especially crafty, use your words! Write them a note, send them a quick “hey you’re great!” text, or remind them how important they are to you the next time you see them.

Put some time in your calendar in the Avanlee App and set up some time with your caregiver to share your thanks and enjoy some time together. Life gets crazy sometimes and between the day-to-day tasks of caregiving and it can be easy to lose quality time with family in the chaos. Ultimately this quality time is important for caregivers and aging loved ones alike, and can have some great benefits for everyone.