It’s no secret that caregivers sacrifice a lot to care for the people they love. But a recent survey commissioned by Pria in honor of National Caregivers Day (February 21, 2020) showed just how many sacrifices they actually make.

The survey, which was conducted online by The Harris Poll among over 1,600 U.S. adults who have provided care for a loved one*, found that 41% of American caregivers say they have sacrificed their own mental or physical health to provide care to a loved one who is unable to care for themselves. In addition to sacrificing their own mental and physical health, caregivers are also making major sacrifices across all aspects of their daily lives.

• 61% have sacrificed time with others
• 48% have sacrificed sleep
• 46% have sacrificed leisure time for activities such as reading or watching TV
• 33% have sacrificed time for exercise
• 31% have sacrificed healthy eating
• 31% have sacrificed their own personal care

The impact of being a caregiver can even be felt in one’s career and finances, with 34% of caregivers reporting making monetary sacrifices such as money spent on groceries, medical needs, gas or parking, and 27% admitting to sacrificing responsibilities at work.

Being a caregiver requires sacrifice, but those sacrifices are made because the job is rewarding. They’re happy to help make their loved ones’ lives just a little bit easier, but it’s always nice to be thanked. If you’re unsure how to thank the caregiver in your life, here are some ideas to get started!

Give a gift card

Regardless of the monetary value, a gift card is a thoughtful way to say thank you – and the possibilities are endless. Caregivers are always on the go, so a gift card to their favorite café or coffee shop would offer a welcomed pick-me-up. You also can’t go wrong with a gift card for a massage, manicure or haircut. As the survey showed, many caregivers have sacrificed their own personal care in order to take on the role, so giving them the opportunity to get pampered is a great way to say thank you.

Home cook a meal

They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. And it’s true. So, when it comes to making someone feel special, nothing does the trick like a home-cooked meal. Whether it’s a five-course dinner or a quick pasta dish, showing your appreciation through food is as thoughtful as it is delicious. If you want to take it a step further, whip up a batch of homemade baked goodies because, well, who doesn’t love those?

Make a charitable donation

Another great way to say thank you is through a charitable donation. Big or small, a donation in your caregiver’s name to their charity of choice can be your way of paying it forward.

Handwrite a thank you note

Sometimes, the best way to say thank you is to put your thoughts in a letter. It can be hard to verbalize your appreciation, so a thoughtful, handwritten letter is a nice way to express your feelings. Whether you give it to them to read aloud, send them home with it to read in private, or mail it directly to their home, they’ll surely be moved by your appreciation.

Caregivers sacrifice a lot to provide care to their loved ones, but they do it because the people they care for are incredibly special to them. Saying thank you – in whatever way you choose – can be your way of showing them just how incredibly special they are to you.

* This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Pria from February 14-18, 2020 among 2,022 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,682 have provided care for a loved one. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Monica Higgins.