Tips on Enjoying the Holiday Season with a Loved One with Dementia
As the holidays draw near, many people look forward to a season filled with presents, parties, and tradition. However, planning and preparing for the perfect holiday season can be complicated with the addition of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The pressure to create the perfect holiday scene, especially for your loved one
living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, can be overwhelming. You may struggle with guilt, thinking this may be the last holiday season your loved one will be able to remember. You may experience feelings of sadness over the change in your loved one this past year due to their memory loss. You may feel pulled in too many directions, trying to participate in office parties and holiday programs, while being available to care for your loved one. You may even struggle with feelings of anger towards your siblings because they live out-of-town and aren’t able to help you care for your aging parents. If you’re feeling sad, angry, guilty, or frustrated, know that you are not alone. Here are some tips to help you enjoy the holiday season while caring for a loved one with dementia.Keep Their Routine
People living with Alzheimer’s and dementia do best with a routine. When your loved one knows what to expect each day, it’s easier for them to navigate their day while coping with memory loss. Patterns and familiarity breeds calmness, while change in routine, even if the intention is good, breeds anxiety. When celebrating the holidays with your loved one with dementia, try to keep to their usual routine as much as you can. Stick to their usual meal times, let them take their usual nap, and ensure that they are home before their usual bedtime. If your loved one is living in a memory care facility, consider bringing the celebration to them so that they feel comfortable in a familiar environment.
Celebrate When It’s Best for Them
Just like everyone else, people living with dementia have good days and bad days. The difference between a person with dementia and one without is that the person with dementia has lost the ability to filter their emotions which often results in agitation and aggression. Avoid triggering such behaviors by celebrating the holidays when it’s best for your loved one. Whether you choose to celebrate on the actual holiday or another day, pick a time that works for your loved one. Avoid celebrating in the late afternoon or evening, when sundowning can occur. Consider purchasing and wrapping their gifts early in the month so that if they happen to be having the best day, you can celebrate right then and there.
Keep It Short & Simple
Too much stimulation is another trigger for a person living with dementia. Avoid larger gatherings with your loved one, as the more people the more noise. Encourage extended family to visit your loved one in smaller groups throughout the month, instead of all on one day. Focus on making the moment count instead of cramming too much activity into your loved one’s holiday celebration.
Give Them Tasks
While you may have good intentions about letting your loved one with dementia relax while you do all the holiday preparations, providing them with something to do can be beneficial and help them cope with the extra activity surrounding the holiday celebration. Find ways to keep your loved one busy and ask them to help you with various tasks throughout the festivities. Let them set the table for dinner, fold the napkins, assist with meal preparation, sweep the floors, or other easy tasks that they can manage. You can even throw a clean load of towels in the dryer and ask them to fold them if there’s really nothing that they can do.
Provide Respite
Finally, if there’s no way to avoid a long day of celebrating with your loved one, be sure to give your loved one some alone time so that the can recoup throughout the day. Provide a quiet space for them, where they can read or nap, whenever they are feeling overwhelmed. Tell the grandkids that this room is off limits, especially when your loved one is occupying the room. Place a few books or magazines that they can browse, play calming music for them, and have a small basket of snacks and water available for them. If you notice that they are looking weary, escort them to the room and encourage them to rest for a while.
Visiting Angels Southlake prides ourselves in being a leader when it comes to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Our exceptional companion caregivers make it possible for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia to live in place. Research continues to show that familiar surroundings play an important role in the well-being of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care services allow your loved one to remain where they are most comfortable and happy. Give yourself the gift of partnering with us this holiday season and allow us to take on some of the burden you are shouldering when it comes to caring for your loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Contact us today so that we can learn more about your situation.