7 ways caregivers can create a special holiday amid covid

4. CREATE A MOOD WITH HOLIDAY DECORATIONS I used to bring my grandmother a little potted Christmas tree when she could no longer put up a large one, and her eyes sparkled each time.

Caregiver Deb Kelsey-Davis of Downers Grove, Illinois, says it's holiday lights that give her parents a lift. "I put my parents’ lights and tree up,” she says. “It makes such a big

difference with Dad and Mom … gives them such joy! We had a good time, too, reminiscing about Christmases past." She's not alone: Just over half of U.S. adults plan to put extra

oomph into holiday decorating to brighten up the end of this tough year, according to a survey by Porch, a company that provides customer-management solutions for moving and home maintenance

professionals. If you are avoiding indoor visits, ask family and friends to help with outdoor decorations your loved ones can enjoy from their windows. If they live in facilities, ask to

put decorations outside their window for a daily reminder of your presence. Share videos and photos of your holiday decorations, or those you see in your neighborhood or online. If loved

ones are decorating in their homes, you can cheer each other on and chat while you work. Try sending ready-to-display items like a small decorated pumpkin, turkey toy, tree, menorah or other

symbol of the holidays. Decorations can give caregivers a boost as well. I'm getting mine out early this year because I need a little cheer, being 2,000 miles away from my sister as

she gets ready for a major surgery. 5. TAKE YOUR TRADITIONS VIRTUAL Virtual connections can go beyond a short conversation. Do you sing carols, bake, create crafts, or watch It's a

Wonderful Life every year like my family does? We're doing these things from a distance thanks to video chat apps like FaceTime, Zoom and Skype. For example, we choose a movie and queue

it up on our DVR or streaming device. Then we call each other on FaceTime, hit play at the same time and watch in unison, unmuting our phones to share laughs, tears or comments. It's

the next best thing to being together! Or you might set up a phone or tablet on a tripod so you can see each other and bake, create crafts, feast, play charades or trivia, or engage in other

holiday traditions. Play digital games together, online or via apps. Record and save as visual keepsakes loved ones can return to, as you might make videos of traditional holiday

get-togethers. 6. SHOP ONLINE TOGETHER Help loved ones do their holiday shopping online, together or from a distance. Remember the old Sears catalog Wish Book? Create your own version by

downloading or printing photos of items they might like, creating a document or notebook, and sending it for them to peruse. 7. START NEW TRADITIONS It can be helpful to focus forward

instead of on the past. Make this a year to create new holiday rituals. Perhaps you could: * build a holiday bonfire * make homemade gifts * meet for a walk outside * cook the same recipes

from a distance and compare * read to kids or grandkids via video calls * call each other while you have your first holiday morning cup of coffee Those old family traditions had to start

somewhere, right? Some of your holiday adaptations this year will likely become traditions! Daunting as it might seem to make the holidays memorable this year for something other than their

difference, in future years we may look back and marvel at how creative we were. Please share you own ideas in the comments below, or with the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group.