SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is offering tips for celebrating the holidays with a family member or friend who is living with dementia.
Jennifer Reeder is the Educational and Social Services Director for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. She said that dementia doesn't prevent someone from feeling the warmth, love, and laughter of the holiday season, but it can change how they experience it.
“Being proactive, adaptable, and inclusive of the person’s wishes and abilities are the best ways caregivers can help them have a happy and joyful holiday season,” said Reeder.
The AFA offers the following tips for a dementia-friendly holiday season at your gathering:
- Simple decorations are beneficial during the holiday season. Flickering lights, noises, and significant changes to a person's environment can potentially cause a person with dementia to wander. AFA recommends slowly phasing in decorations during the holiday season.
- Watch out for safety hazards. Fragile decorations that can shatter or decor that looks like food or candy should be avoided. Wires on the floor can be tripping hazards for those with dementia because the condition can cause changes in vision, perception, and gait. Hook Christmas trees to the wall and use electric candles if possible.
- Adapt old traditions and add new ones. If your loved one with dementia once loved to bake cookies or send cards, help them continue the tradition. Also, begin new traditions like touring holiday lights in the neighborhood. Ask your loved one what is important to them and try to help them stay engaged with the season.
- Know that it's normal to feel sad. Change is hard, especially around holidays when things aren't what they used to be. But by acknowledging your feelings, you allow yourself to move on and find new reasons to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones.
- Follow cues. By using a person-centered, strengths-based approach to the holidays, you can help your loved one with dementia choose what they want to do or not do. It's important not to dwell on what they used to do. Instead, focus on what brings your family joy and let go of traditions that cause stress during this holiday season.
- Create a calm, quiet space. By making a space where your loved one can be comfortable during the holiday gathering, you're creating a space where your loved one with dementia can retreat when the celebration becomes overstimulating to them. Consider placing your loved one's favorite things, such as blankets, sweaters, or stuffed animals, to help them feel at ease.
- Maintain a regular routine when possible. You can't always control what happens at holiday gatherings, but it's essential to understand that it can be difficult for someone with dementia when their routine becomes disrupted.
- Accept help. Caring for a loved one with dementia is hard. That's why it's important to ask for and accept help. Between shopping, preparing, and hosting a gathering, additional responsibilities are often difficult for those caring for someone with dementia. Bear in mind that relatives and friends may want to help but not know how to help. By accepting their offers and asking for what you need, you'll be making the holidays more merry for all involved—including yourself.
- Call the AFA hotline if you're overwhelmed. If you need more tips on creating a dementia-friendly holiday, call (866) 232-8484 to talk to a licensed social worker. Or if you're too busy to talk but have time to text, reach out to a professional by texting (646) 586-5283. AFA's web chat and text message features are offered in more than 90 languages.
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