The holidays can be a difficult time for families whose loved one is living with memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. After all, many of our holiday conversations start with “Remember when …”, which can instantly make someone with dementia feel left out, sad and isolated. However, that doesn’t mean that your loved one shouldn’t participate in holiday gatherings. Rather, this is the time of year that’s most meaningful to everyone, says Fred Kelly, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Lexington.
“There are still ways to reminisce about holidays past that also include your loved one with dementia,” Fred explains. “In fact, reminiscing is one of the most meaningful and accessible therapies to practice with someone who is living with dementia because it allows for memories to become unlocked and flow naturally.”
The trick, Fred says, is to change the way you talk about memories and stories from your past. “The onus is on you, the family member, to start and steer the conversation in an inclusive and positive way. By talking about your memories and sharing things you remember, you may help a long-ago memory surface or provide an opportunity for your loved one to participate in conversation and share meaningful experiences.”
Reminiscing can take place in many ways: through activities, through the senses or through storytelling. Since the past is often much clearer than the present for those living with dementia, the holidays really are the perfect time to gather and converse – after all, so many of our best holiday memories and traditions stem from the past. Drawing on those past memories and experiences can help prompt sharing, make spirits bright and draw your family even closer together this holiday season.
The Benefits of Reminiscing During the Holidays
It provides meaningful interaction and communication. When seniors with memory loss are encouraged to practice therapeutic storytelling, it gives them an opportunity to increase communication skills, interact in conversations and bond with friends and family members. For family members, they may have the opportunity to learn something new about their senior loved one.
It improves self-esteem. Reminiscing allows your loved one to connect to their past and rediscover parts of themselves, which boosts self-esteem and provides a sense of success. These are all things that are easy to lose during the dementia journey, and giving your loved one that opportunity to rediscover them is a true gift.
It reduces boredom. Reminiscing is an activity that boosts the senses and requires your loved one to exercise different parts of their brain. Boredom is a big problem for seniors, especially those with dementia, and reminiscing is an involved and stimulating activity that keeps the brain busy, making it an excellent mental exercise.
It provides connection. As mentioned several times, reminiscing helps seniors reconnect with the person they were and connect with children and grandchildren in the present.
Exercises To Help Seniors Reminisce This Holiday Season
Cooking and baking favorite recipes. Going over familiar recipes can bring back memories of previous holidays and make your loved one excited for the current season. They can help prepare and make the food – washing and cutting ingredients or even pouring a cup of flour in the bowl will make them feel included. The smell of the meal and desserts will benefit your loved one as well. Smells can trigger memories and will help signal to your loved one that it’s the holidays.
Journeying through the past. Chances are that you or your loved one have photos from holidays past – as well as photos of the rest of their life. Going through photo albums is a great way to reminisce and talk about years gone by. As you’re looking through photos, consider creating a memory box filled with holiday mementos as well as writing own any memories that surface in a life story journal. Having these tools can help your loved one relive cherished memories and provide a way for you to document them for years to come.
Decking the halls. Decorating for the holidays provides a wonderful visual trigger for past memories. At the same time, decorating is an excellent opportunity to spend time with loved ones and share stories of past holiday seasons.
Listening to holiday music. Music is a wonderful tool for helping reminisce because the part of the brain where music lives is not affected by the progress of dementia. Even if your loved one is in the later stages of the disease, they may be able to remember and sing along to a favorite holiday song. The music may also trigger memories to come to light.
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Our programs, care and services are all designed to celebrate our residents’ lives and support each resident’s strengths and abilities. No matter what stage of memory loss a resident may be experiencing, our memory care professionals work to maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a positive impact on the lives of our residents every day.
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Featuring a stunning, purposeful design, Bridges® by EPOCH at Lexington is so much more than a beautiful place to live . . . It’s a community focused on enriching the lives of our residents and helping their families enjoy meaningful relationships with them. Our evidence-based design features, including soft paint colors, directional cues, and aromatherapy, provide a soothing and easy-to-navigate environment.
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