Hello supporters and friends 🤗
I once received a precious and unexpected present that so warmed my heart that it still resonates 15 years later.
It happened during the 6-1/2 years that I cared for my late husband, Don, who had been paralyzed from the neck down after a stroke. A carpenter working on a project in our home noticed my typically unseen efforts on my husband’s behalf. His wife worked at a spa, and they gifted me with a day of pampering at her workplace.
I was shocked in the best way possible. I felt seen and appreciated, which brought an ebullience to my heart. For that moment, I was the one being cared for, and their thoughtfulness made such a difference in my caregiving journey. My treasured memories of that gift became one part of my inspiration for the Kathi Koll Foundation, which also works to provide special gifts to caregivers who need to have their spirits lifted.
Surprise a Caregiver Day occurs in May to honor my mother, who was born on May 16 and who I tended during a long illness. However, instead of occurring on just one day, Surprise a Caregiver Day can happen anytime in May, a month that to me is full of hope, spring flowers, and new growth.
Caregivers suffer disproportionately from exhaustion, depression, and other stress-induced health issues, so consider how you might share a little love and encouragement with the caregivers in your life. With more than 53 million caregivers in the United States, it’s likely that you know more than one, and Surprise a Caregiver Day can be a way to bring them a feeling of happiness and appreciation that may last for years.
Here are some gift ideas to inspire you:
1) Traditional Can Be Best
Flowers, candy, or a gift card for a spa or coffee shop are always good bets. A caring note, such as “Thinking of you and everything you do each day,” can be so appreciated that a caregiver might put the note on the refrigerator as a reminder that someone sees their efforts and cares. Recipients of the Foundation’s gifts tell us that such acknowledgements are often more important that the gifts themselves, so, if you can’t afford a present this year, take a few minutes to jot down your kind thoughts and share them with someone who needs them.
2)Â A Free Hour or Two
Caregivers often have difficulty stepping away from their loved ones to care for themselves, but that self-care is vital. So, if you can spare an hour or even an afternoon, give the gift of time. Offer to provide an hour or two of the loved one’s care, and let the caregiver know that the they can use that time to step away and do anything they want whether it’s watching a movie, going for a walk in the woods, or visiting with a dear friend. Let them know that you see how hard they work, and you want them to relax and simply enjoy themselves for a bit.
3)Â Give to a Stranger
If you don’t know a caregiver, but you’d still like to help one, share your goal with friends and relatives. Someone is bound to know a caregiver who needs their spirits lifted, and some of your family and friends might even get a kick out of joining the effort. However, if you aren’t able to find a caregiver to gift, reach out to the Foundation. We would be happy to surprise a caregiver on your behalf.
As you work to find a caregiver to surprise, you might also surprise yourself with how much pleasure you receive from the effort. It’s often true that the more joy you spread, the more joy you feel yourself. So, give a little and brighten the lives of both a caregiver and yourself.
Thank you for reading, share with a friend, and celebrate a caregiver this month or anytime through the year! Â -KK
We are grateful have been helping caregivers in need for over 10 years thanks to support of the many generous and caring friends who have helped make a difference in so many lives.Â
Please consider donating to the Kathi Koll Foundation so you can help make a difference in struggling family caregivers’ lives. Thank you!