Dealing with Alzheimer’s & Dementia During the Holidays.

If you are responsible for a dementia patient, the holidays with traditional family gatherings can be challenging. Most of the family members probably don’t what you are going through, and educating them will make your life much easier.

Here are some tips to navigate through the festivities:

If you are doing your best to keep your impaired loved one at home, you are a caregiver. Even if you have professional help, you probably have a lot on your plate and don’t need extra work or stress during the holiday season.

Here are some life-saving tips to navigate through the festivities:

1 – Don’t expect your family and friends to know what you are going through. Be vocal and clear about your current reality.

2 – Let visitors bring food. Even if by tradition you are the family’s baking star, currently it’s easier for others to spend a day baking goods than it is for you.

3 – It’s not cheap to deal with dementia. Whether your loved one is at home or in a facility, there are lots of costs involved. If you have the resources, shopping can be a nice break from your regular activities, but if it’s not the case, don’t overwhelm yourself by buying gifts for everyone. Your family and friends will understand!

4 – Consider a smaller gathering. It’s a joy and sometimes a tradition to have a full house, but now a big gathering may be more than your loved one can handle. A smaller group may prevent dementia-related episodes of stress and agitation.

5 – What about an earlier party? Alzheimer’s patients may get confused and have a hard time in the evenings (sundowning). If it’s the case with your loved one, talk to your family about a change in the schedule.

6 – Blinking lights? No, thank you! Even patients who used to love blinking lights become overwhelmed by them once they develop Alzheimer’s disease. If your neighborhood has lots of blinking lights, keep the curtains closed.

7 – The more cards, the better. Ask your friends and family to send cards by mail. It can be an entertaining daily activity, so be sure to read all of them, talk about who sent them, comment on the images, and arrange them on the tree.

8 – Prepare your family members for the changes they will find. Family members who don’t have regular contact with the dementia patient can be shocked by how much the disease can progress in 12 months. A heads-up can be welcome.

9 – Be clear about cleaning expectations. Don’t expect people will know what to do. Tell them how much you appreciate some help with cleaning and dishwashing.

10 – You deserve a break. At this time of the year, it’s possible that your family and friends have days off. If you could use some hours to take care of yourself, don’t be shy about asking for help. They will be happy and even feel included for being able to help.

11 – Are you taking your loved one from the memory care facility for the holidays? A change of environment is a big deal for dementia patients, and they need some time to adapt. Another factor to consider is if it’s worth it to put them in contact with people who may be asymptomatic but contagious for Covid or the flu. Maybe it’s a good idea to schedule a visit with some family members to celebrate with the patient in the facility.

Useful links about the theme:

https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/holidays

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20047715

https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/i-have-friend-or-family-member-who-lives-dementia/holidays-special-occasions