New Year’s Eve can be a fun, exciting and nostalgic celebration. It’s a time to look back and reminisce about everything that happened in the past year, as well as to look forward to the excitement of all the new opportunities the new year will bring. When we think of New Year’s celebrations, we think of party dresses, champagne, noisemakers and large gatherings with friends and family. However, if you’re planning on celebrating New Year’s with a loved one who has dementia, those traditional trappings can add up to a lot of stress and anxiety.
“There are a lot of emotions that come with celebrating New Year’s Eve, as well as the hustle and bustle of throwing a traditional party, which can lead to anxiousness and difficulty coping,” says Amanda Jillson, Executive Director at Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua, a memory care assisted living community in Nashua, NH. “However, that doesn’t mean that you should put away the party hats and streamers this year. In fact, New Year’s Eve can be a really rewarding, fulfilling time for both you and your loved one with dementia.”
This New Year’s Eve, if you’re celebrating with a loved one who has dementia, here are some fun activities to help make the evening enjoyable for all. All these activities are family-friendly, so gather friends and family and get ready to ring in 2019.
1. Make New Year’s Resolutions
What’s more traditional than New Year’s resolutions? Creating a list of how to improve your life is something that people of any age can do. A very easy and obvious way to do this is to print out a list of New Year’s resolution prompts or examples (you can find these online) and have everyone fill one out. You can even do them together for added fun. If you want to up your resolution game, here are two activities that can add a little group participation into the mix:
- Two Truths and a Lie. Ask each participant to think of and write down three resolutions, two of which are things they actually want to accomplish and one that is a lie. Then, go around and ask each person to share their resolutions. Everyone else in the group will guess which of the resolutions are real and which is the lie. Encourage people to be as silly and funny as possible!
- Guess the Resolution. Have guests write down their resolutions on individual slips of paper. Put the slips into a basket and have people pull them out one at a time, read them out loud and guess who the resolution belongs to.
2. Reminisce About the Past
This is especially nice if you’re gathered with other family members. Bring out some family photo albums, and ask other family members to bring meaningful photos of their own. Go through the photos and talk about the events and people you see. Bonus points if the photos are documenting New Year’s celebrations from the past (although any family gathering is good). Ask everyone to share some of their favorite New Year’s memories – this could be a fun way to learn more about each other and your loved one. You can also discuss the highlights of the past year and what you’re looking forward to in 2019.
3. Hold a Scavenger Hunt
A New Year’s scavenger hunt is a fun and easy way to encourage participation and get some great pictures, too. Hide New Year’s-themed items around your home (or wherever you’re celebrating), pass out lists to guests, and turn them loose. Everyone can then use these items to ring in the New Year when the ball drops. Some ideas of items include:
- A calendar
- Swizzle sticks
- Coasters
- A clock
- Banners
- Streamers
- Party hats
- Noisemakers
- Champagne glasses
4. Take a Trip Around the World
Every country has different New Year’s celebrations, including foods as well as rituals. As the evening progresses, incorporate a multicultural flair by ringing in the New Year along with different countries as the clock strikes 12 in their time zone. Here are some fun traditions:
- People in Spain eat 12 grapes at midnight
- The Danish banish bad spirits by throwing old glasses and plates against doors (consider using plastic for safety!)
- In Turkey, people sprinkle salt on their front doorstep to bring peace and abundance in the new year
- Austrians feast on pork and give gifts in the shape of pigs (considered to be an animal that brings good luck)
- In many South American countries, people wear different colors of underwear to usher in good luck
5. Kick In the New Year by Kicking Up Your Heels
Music is always a fun way to reminisce and get in a festive mood. Put together a playlist of some of your loved one’s favorite songs, clear a space in a room and have a little dance party. Don’t forget to break out your camera or cell phone to record the moments for posterity!
6. Change the Countdown
Staying up until midnight isn’t always feasible for people with dementia. There’s no reason to force anyone to stay up all night to celebrate the ball dropping. Consider changing when you hold the countdown. You can celebrate with different countries (or time zones, if you happen to live west of New York City), or you can change it to a New Year’s morning party. It doesn’t matter when or where you celebrate – the important thing is that you do celebrate!
If you would like more information about making the New Year special for a loved one with dementia, contact us at 603.594.0581.
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Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua provides assisted living memory care that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia or memory impairment, we’ve created a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.
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