The holiday season is in full swing with plenty of food, song and drink, joyful celebrations and family gatherings. For people with Alzheimer’s disease, though, it can be a challenging time of year. With some planning, there are steps you can take to make it a happy time for all.
Stick to routines. A common truth for people with Alzheimer’s is that they thrive on regular routines. Parties and gatherings with outside guests, loud conversations and lots of activity can be disorienting for people with dementia. Traveling to a new destination can also create anxiety. Keep this in mind when you are with a loved one with dementia over the holidays and do your best to respect their routine. Make sure they have a quiet room to retreat to if needed, and stick to their daily schedule as best as possible, e.g., stick close to their usual wake-up time, meal times and bed time.
Keep decorations simple. Face it, we all love to decorate for the holidays. Know that blinking lights and displays with lots of decorations can cause disorientation for someone with dementia. So keep your decorations simple. Also be aware that things such as candles with hot burning flames can be a safety hazard, as well as decorations that could be mistaken as edible, such as wax fruits or candies.
Celebrate at their home. If your loved one is living at a memory-care residence like Bridges by EPOCH, consider holding a small family gathering or celebration there to avoid unnecessary anxiety for everyone involved, particularly if your loved one becomes anxious traveling outside of the residence.
Take care of yourself. One of the biggest things that caregivers forget to do is to take care of themselves. During the holidays, there is a great deal of pressure on caregivers and personal needs are too often neglected. If you are a caregiver, as you plan for the holidays, keep things simple. And don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for assistance with such things as meal preparation and cleaning.
This is the time of year that brings people together to support one another. Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!