Whether your loved one has been recently diagnosed with a form of dementia or is in an advanced stage of the disease, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can be extra challenging for them and their family caregivers.
When it comes to navigating Christmas and other holidays and enjoying this festive time together, there are tips to follow that will benefit the caregiver and the person living with dementia.
Tips for Managing Dementia and the Holiday Season
The holidays must go on! And they still can, with a few specific considerations for navigating the holidays and dementia.
Make It Festive while Keeping Your Loved One Comfortable
The holidays are a frenzy of sound, color, and activity. And all of it is wonderful, but it can be stressful or even frightening to a person with dementia. Plus, the holidays tend to cause many disruptions to normal daily routines.
Here are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Avoid using blinking lights as these can be confusing or scary to a person living with dementia. Christmas lights should either not blink or have a gentle, slow twinkle.
- Avoid putting out any decorations that look like food, as they could be mistaken for being edible.
- Say yes to gifts but do suggest useful items like recordings of favorite music and comfortable clothing.
- Avoid complicated games, crafting items that require intense focus, or anything that could cause injury.
- It’s okay to keep holiday gatherings small so your loved one doesn’t become overwhelmed.
Adjust Plans as Needed
Be flexible! Between the shopping, the cards, the decorating, the baking, the traveling, and more, the holidays can feel overwhelming for even the healthiest person.
These caregiver tips for the holiday season can help both the caregiver and their loved one with dementia adjust to holiday pressures and feel less overwhelmed:
- Reduce the amount of stimulation in the home of a loved one living with dementia.
- Be selective about which parties or visitors are appropriate. Clear communication is key here to avoid hurt feelings and misunderstandings. Explain why you and your loved one won’t be attending certain gatherings or why you’re inviting fewer people.
- Build in rests and breaks for yourself and the person living with dementia. When someone with dementia becomes over-stimulated, they may exhibit difficult behaviors and make it stressful for all involved. Working in rest and quiet time is important for everyone.
- Choose activities your loved one can still participate in rather than planning something that’s beyond their abilities.
- Use an approach of engagement so that you can join your loved one in activities. Whether it’s cooking a dish or putting together a jigsaw puzzle, co-participate rather than leaving them to figure out a task on their own.
- The Alzheimer’s Association reminds those caring for loved ones with dementia that changes in behavior and memory are caused by the disease and not the person.
Take Care of Yourself, Too
When you’re caring for another person – whether during the holidays or another time of year – it helps if you can be your own caregiver, too. The holidays can be an emotionally draining time, and the best defense against this is preparation.
Visiting family members may arrive full of opinions about how care should be administered for the person living with dementia. Rather than taking offense, it’s best to accept these suggestions as merely a different perspective.
Use the additional help from visitors as a chance to take a break for yourself. You might even ask for respite care – either from another family member or a professional in-home care agency – as a gift.
Scale back your own task list and delegate some holiday chores. Maybe a holiday dinner can be a brunch, or a friend could drop your holiday cards at the post office for you.
Just because someone in your family is living with dementia does not mean that you – and they – cannot enjoy the spirit of the holiday season.
Dementia Care Services for a More Peaceful Holiday Season
The holidays may look different when a loved one has dementia, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be full of peace and joy. If you need an extra hand during the holidays (or any other time of year), our compassionate caregivers are here to help. Contact your local Homewatch CareGivers® online or call 888-405-5191 to learn more about our dementia care services.
