“If you give me a spa certificate but no gift of time to go with it, I’ll probably never use it.”
As friends and family of Alzheimer’s and other dementia family caregivers, we want to give meaningful gifts that will actually be used and appreciated! Through our experiences and what we’ve learned from others on their caregiving journeys, we’ve developed five important categories of gifts that truly make a difference in a caregiver’s life.
Understanding Gift-Giving for Caregivers
From the moment the diagnosis is received, caregiving becomes a 24/7 responsibility. Caregivers often lose their sense of self, giving up hobbies and interests that once brought them joy, to invest more time caring for their loved one. When choosing gifts for caregivers, it’s important to be intentional about selecting items that are comforting, supportive, and help caregivers reconnect with their identity.
With more generations supporting the caregiving journey, consider all family members involved in caregiving, including younger generations who may be helping with — for example — their grandparents after school.
Here are five categories of gifts that caregivers will actually use and appreciate.
Tip 1: The Gift of Time
The most valuable gift you can give a caregiver is time — specifically, time for themselves while you share time with their care receiver. This gives the caregiver an opportunity for essential “me time.”
Key points:
- Offer specific time blocks for caregiving relief
- Help the caregiver plan how to use their time
- Consider different time increments:
• 10–20 minutes
• An hour
• Half-day
• Full day
• Evening
• Weekend - Begin your self-care journey. Find your guide here
Nancy’s Experience:
Caregivers don’t necessarily think about things for themselves as a high priority. If you just give me a spa gift certificate, it’s probably not going to make the priority list because I don’t have time. Giving me the gift of time to go with the spa certificate makes all the difference.
Tip 2: Identity-Reconnecting Gifts
Pair the gift of time with something that helps caregivers reconnect with their interests and hobbies.
Key points:
- Tickets to movies, theater, or sports events
- Online fitness class subscriptions
- Favorite sport lessons — and sessions
- Hobby-related classes (cooking, crafting, woodworking)
- Spa services or massage gift certificates — for both men and women!
Sue’s Experience:
My husband’s buddies called one morning and asked if they could take him out for breakfast the next day. When I said yes, they revealed they had made me an appointment for a mani-pedi while they were with him and they would bring me the gift certificate when they picked him up. It meant so much because I had completely taken anything like that off my list. They intentionally planned both the care for him and something special for me.
Tip 3: Practical Assistance Gifts
These gifts take tasks off the caregiver’s plate:
- Providing meals (either dining out or home-cooked)
- Hiring cleaning services
- Offering transportation assistance:
• Child pickup/drop off
• Adult daycare transportation - Pet care and dog walking
- Babysitting or pet sitting services
Tip 4: Coordinate People Who Want To Help
Take practical assistance to the next level by organizing ongoing support.
Use coordination tools like:
- MealTrain.com
- CaringBridge.com
- Google Calendar
Organize recurring assistance with:
- Meal delivery
- Child transportation
- Pet care
- House cleaning
Tip 5: Thoughtful Gestures
Simple and meaningful gestures that show you care.
- Quick check-in phone calls
- Text messages from family members
- Handwritten notes
- Digital photo frames with family event updates
- Religious or spiritual support
- Favorite pampering items:
• Special snacks
• Scented candles
• Luxury personal care items
Sue’s Experience:
A friend offered to take my husband to daily Mass and said, “You can join us or stay home. I’ve noticed at church you’re so focused on caring for Jack that you’re not focused on the experience for yourself.” That thoughtfulness meant so very much to me.
Special Considerations for Gift-Giving.
When giving gifts to caregivers:
- Always pair experience gifts with the gift of time
- Help combat “caregiver guilt” by making it easier to accept help
- Consider the whole family’s caregiving situation
- Make specific plans rather than open-ended offers
- Focus on reducing stress and adding joy
Final Thoughts:
Gift-giving for caregivers requires thoughtful consideration of both the practical and emotional aspects of their journey. While it may seem challenging to choose the right gift, remember that the most appreciated gifts combine the gift for the caregiver while someone else shares time with the care receiver.
Key takeaways:
- The gift of time is one of the most valuable gifts
- Make gifts specific and actionable
- Consider making some gifts recurring by coordinating support
- Often, what seems like the smallest gestures for you aare huge for the caregiver
- Help caregivers prioritize self-care
If you have gift ideas that have worked well for caregivers in your life, please share them on our Facebook page or Instagram page.
We’re all on this journey together.
