Winter & dementia: yes, there is a connection!

If you are a caretaker of a dementia patient and have the impression that things go south during cold months, well, it’s not a mere impression.

In 2018, researchers from Canada (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the University of Toronto) (1) studied the seasonal component of the cold season on Alzheimer’s disease. The results may confirm your suspicions.

More than 3.000 participants went through a battery of 19 cognitive tests. The results showed a decrease equivalent to 4.8 years of regular cognitive decrease during the winter and early spring.

We curated tips from reliable resources to soften the effects on your loved one.

11 Tips to Cope with Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Forms of Dementia During Winter

1 – Lock the doors & put the keys in a safe place. Wandering is always dangerous, but it can be life-threatening in the winter since dementia patients are not likely to dress appropriately and are at high risk for falls. Make sure doors are always locked, and the dementia patient doesn’t have access to keys.

2 – Velcro is an ally. Clothing and shoes with Velcro encourage dementia patients to keep their autonomy and keep themselves warm.

3 – Keep the patient in movement. Every kind of movement is better than no movement at all. Moving legs and arms improves circulation, even if the patient is in a wheelchair. You can also ask the patient to do small chores, like folding towels, to keep them in movement.

4 – Natural light, please. Keep the curtains open and ensure the person can sit comfortably close to the window. But choose a window with a quiet view to avoid overstimulation.

5 – BLT Light against SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. BLT light is a special bright light that compensates for the reduced natural light during the winter. Studies show that “using BLT first thing in the morning may be the most effective time to reset circadian rhythms, thus alleviating some of the depressive symptoms associated with SAD.” (2)

6 – Access the patient regularly, checking if their skin is cold since they may not be able to verbalize their needs.

7 – Sundown syndrome is real! Some dementia patients present mood swings, relentlessness, and high anxiety in the early evening. (3) Considering that during the winter, the days get darker earlier, the sundown symptoms may be increased. Avoid trying to reason with the patient during his mood swing. Instead, play calm music, use a quiet tone, and keep the lights on to reassure the patient that he is safe when the sunlight goes off.

8 – Use colors wisely. Colors wake up feelings, and the color theory can be an ally to create an uplifting environment for dementia patients during winter. (4) Blue is associated with peace, and green with renewal and hope. It doesn’t mean you must repaint your house, but bringing up clothing, images, and fabrics with spring-like colors.

9 – Being busy is essential. Do you remember the challenge of keeping your toddlers entertained in the winter? It’s time to bring those skills back and use them with your parents or grandparents. Try to play simple card games, see family pictures together, look at a big USA map, and point to the states. Is there an interesting fact about the state? Did the person ever visit it? A map is a simple object that brings lots of opportunities for interaction. For more ideas, check the fifth link (5).

10 – Sensory activities never get old. Going to the backyard may present a risk of falling to your loved one, so bringing snow inside in a plastic box can be a great way to go sensorial and remind them that the season has its joys. Decorating a miniature snowman can be fun! For more sensory activities, check the sixth link (6).

11 – The power of nursery rhymes & other well-known songs. Dementia patients may have problems retaining recent memories, but a study published at the National Library of Medicine in 2009 (7) states that the knowledge of music remains relatively preserved. There are a lot of activities dementia patients can’t do, so focus on what they can do. They will be not only entertained but empowered. It’s time to open the farm gate for Old MacDonald and his loud animals again!

About Via Health Services: we are a family-owned company with two locations. In Carlisle, we provide long-term care and assisted living. In Des Moines, we provide long-term care and offer a new approach to dementia through Via Iris, the first all-women’s memory care facility in Central Iowa.