How to Enjoy the Holidays With a Dementia Diagnosis
The holidays are just around the corner, and if you have a loved one with dementia, you may be worried about how to stay jolly this season. Whether it’s your first holiday with a memory disease or your tenth, it can add stress when trying to make everything a magical memory. So, what can you try this year to have everyone enjoy the holidays with a dementia diagnosis?
Planning and Adjusting Your Holiday
How will you spend your holidays this year? There are many things to consider when traveling or vacationing with your loved one, and staying at home requires different considerations. When you celebrate in your own home, you have control over your surroundings. If you’re thinking about the time of day the celebrations will take place, consider a time that works well for your loved one who might experience sundowning. Plan to stick to routines while also maintaining traditions together so they balance familiarity, memory, and spontaneous holiday spirit. And let them get involved in planning and preparation as it gives them something to look forward to and feel included.
Celebrating in a Care Community
Though you might want to bring your loved one home for the holidays, the transition might be overwhelming for them or put more logistical stress on you as the caregiver. In an assisted living or memory care community, you will often have the option to use a private event space or family meeting room. Allow this to ease your mind knowing that you can still have a holiday gathering with family and friends.
Preparing Visitors
If you plan on having visitors come spend the holidays with you, whether for a few hours or a few days, you’ll want them to be prepared to be in a dementia-friendly environment. Explore ways to introduce your visitors to your loved one so everyone feels ready to have a fun, inclusive time together.
Setting the Space
While you want to enjoy the festive atmosphere and spirit of the holiday, you need to be mindful of your surroundings for your loved one. Music, TV, loud talking, heavy lighting and decoration, and excited activity could be overstimulating for them. Be sure to communicate appropriately, have a smaller number of people gathered, lower the volume, and slow the pace.
Having Activities and a Plan B
Plan some activities your loved one can partake in that won’t overwhelm them:
- Looking through photo albums
- Making holiday cards
- Going on walks
- Baking, decorating, and crafting
- Enjoying favorite holiday movies, books, and music
If your loved one attends a religious ceremony for the holidays and is unable to make it this time, consider bringing a respective member of the religious organization to visit or live-streaming a religious service from the comfort of home. Overall, have a set schedule or routine of activities while being ready to adapt to shorter attention, alternating moods, and accessibility.
Finding the Perfect Gift
The way your loved one gives and receives gifts may be different now. When helping them give gifts, keep in mind they get joy out of giving gifts to others. Offer suggestions for presents and allow them to come to the final decision. When helping others give your loved one a gift, let them know to keep it simple and practical.
Celebrating You, Too!
When you’re the primary caregiver of your loved one with dementia, it can be easy to get lost trying to make magic happen for everyone else but yourself. And when you’re balancing being both the spouse and caregiver, the holidays may feel lonely for you. Remember to adjust your priorities and expectations, don’t overdo it, and get everyone involved in tasks. Ask a friend or family member to tag team in caring for your loved one so you can have a break and enjoy yourself, too.
Learn more about your options for memory care with individualized resources based on your needs through our 5-minute survey powered by Roobrik here.
At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.