Thanksgiving Thanks For Caregivers
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Thanksgiving focuses on food, family, and gratitude. Around every table, people share what they feel grateful for. Seniors often sit at those tables, smiling, remembering, and holding entire family histories in their stories.
Behind many of those smiles stands a caregiver.
Some caregivers are on shift in a client’s home while the rest of the world gathers. Some are adult children who manage bathing, meals, medications, and rides before they even think about their own plate. Holidays do not pause their work. The care continues, hour after hour.
This Thanksgiving, gratitude needs to land directly on caregivers, both paid and unpaid.
The Scale Of Caregiving In America
To understand why caregiver appreciation matters, look at the numbers.
About 63 million Americans are family caregivers.
One in four U.S. adults supports a loved one with care needs.
Less than 12 million receive any payment.
About 4 million Americans work as home care or personal care aides.
Over 37 million people provide unpaid eldercare.
Add those numbers together and you see a massive care force. These workers rarely stand in the spotlight, yet they carry the daily weight of meals, safety, mobility, grooming, and emotional support.
Paid Caregivers: On Duty While The World Gathers
Caregiving does not shut down for holidays. Seniors still need:
• Safe mobility
• Bathing and grooming support
• Medication reminders
• Meal prep
• Companionship
For paid caregivers, Thanksgiving might look like:
• Driving through quiet streets to reach a client
• Eating a holiday plate on a short break
• Setting up video calls so clients can see family
• Sitting bedside so a stressed family can rest
Ways to thank paid caregivers:
• Give a handwritten note
• Share a small gift card
• Tell their supervisor about excellent work
• Offer simple words of appreciation
Family Caregivers: The Invisible Holiday Shift
Family caregivers hold two roles at once. They care for their loved ones while also trying to show up as sons, daughters, spouses, siblings, or friends.
During Thanksgiving week, family caregivers might:
• Prepare the holiday meal while tracking medications
• Clean the house while watching for fall risks
• Try to balance caregiving with hosting
• Feel guilty for wanting a break
Ways to honor family caregivers:
• Ask what feels hardest right now
• Offer one specific task to take off their list
• Acknowledge the emotional load they carry
Family caregiving often becomes a 24/7 responsibility. A sincere thank you means more than most people realize.
Simple Ways To Say Thank You To Caregivers
For paid caregivers
• Write a handwritten thank-you
• Send encouragement during a tough shift
• Respect schedules and boundaries
For family caregivers
• Serve them a warm plate first
• Give them a short break or respite time
• Use clear, thoughtful words of appreciation
Small gestures matter, especially on days when someone feels unseen.
A Thanksgiving Self Care Reminder For Caregivers
To every caregiver: you deserve rest. You deserve a warm meal. You deserve moments of peace.
Here are self care steps for Thanksgiving week:
1. Protect one daily ritual
Choose one practice and keep it sacred: a walk, a cup of coffee, quiet time, or a breathing break.
2. Ask for one piece of help
Pick one draining task and ask someone to take it over this week.
3. Release the idea of a perfect holiday
Caregiving brings unpredictability. Connection matters more than flawless timing.
4. Check in with your own health
Notice your stress levels, sleep, mood, and energy. Caregivers often ignore their own needs until burnout hits hard.
Support Caregivers After Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving gratitude creates the most impact when it leads to long-term support.
Ways to support caregivers year-round:
• Check in regularly
• Offer breaks and respite time
• Help with errands or meal trains
• Share helpful resources
• Encourage them to talk about their stress
Caregiving continues long past the holiday. Consistent support makes a real difference.
For Your Caregiving Supplies And Support Needs
Caregivers deserve reliable tools that make daily life easier and safer.
If you need supplies that support caregiving at home, ENHDME has options designed to help caregivers and seniors stay comfortable and supported.