Your elderly father has dementia so as his caregiver you’re worried about the upcoming holidays. Last year dad got confused and agitated, which put a damper on the festivities. Dealing with dementia has been hard but you love your father dearly and want him to be involved again this year. What should you do? Finding ways to include a senior relative with dementia in holiday celebrations isn’t easy. What follows are some creative ideas so that your holiday season will be more enjoyable for all. 

Dealing with Dementia Around the Holidays 

As dementia progresses it can cause different behaviors that then surface during holiday gatherings. Early on, those behavioral changes might be subtle, like withdrawing socially or acting uncomfortable. Many people with dementia also feel a sense of loss while celebrating holidays because of what they’re going through.

In the latter stages of dementia behaviors like agitation, confusion and aggression are possible. Forgetting the names of children or grandchildren is also common. The person’s informal caregiver may start to get overwhelmed while trying to maintain family traditions along with providing care. At that point, it’s best to avoid any holiday activities that could overstimulate the person with dementia- or the person caring for them.

Moderation is the Key During Holiday Festivities   

There are times when someone with dementia will suddenly get excited while seeing family or friends. Everyone’s situation is different, so finding a plan that works for you both may take some trial and error.

Since a person with dementia is sensitive to their environment following a set routine helps. Too much stimulation can worsen agitation or confusion, while too little stimulation may cause them to withdraw. Since the key is providing moderate stimulation for your loved one, try these tips:

Set realistic expectations 

First, you’ll need to adjust your expectations. To avoid any misunderstandings once your other guests arrive, contact them in advance to clarify those new expectations and update them about your senior’s condition.

Some of the best ways to discuss the situation as a group are:

  • Video chats
  • Meeting at someone’s home
  • Emails

So that you don’t get overwhelmed as a caregiver, instead of inviting 20 people over for dinner, only invite half that number. You can also suggest a potluck meal so that you don’t have to do all the cooking.

Involve the person living with dementia 

While maintaining the routine of the loved one with dementia as much as possible, involve them in safe, manageable holiday preparation activities like:

  • Wrapping packages
  • Decorating the tree
  • Setting the table
  • Preparing food
  • Going caroling

Adapt gift giving

Provide your guests beforehand with suggestions for useful and enjoyable gifts for the person with dementia, like a medical ID bracelet or membership in a wandering response service. Other gift ideas for someone living with dementia include:

  • Photo albums of friends and family members
  • Easy-to-remove clothing items
  • Favorite music CDs
  • Treats that they really like

Advise others to avoid giving your loved one potentially dangerous gifts or ones that might confuse or agitate them. Depending upon their abilities and interests, involve your loved one in the gift exchange. For example, if they enjoy wrapping gifts ask them to help.

Take care of yourself

Involving a loved one with dementia in holiday festivities can be equally stressful on their caregiver. When you feel caregiver stress coming on take a break and ask someone else to spend time with mom or dad for a few hours so you can catch up on other responsibilities.

Possible sources of caregiving relief include:

  • A trusted family member, neighbor or friend
  • Community volunteers that work with seniors
  • Adult daycare
  • Respite caregiver from a licensed home care agency

“Cream of the Crop” Respite Care for Alabama Seniors 

When you need to take a caregiving break during the holidays- or any time of year- contact Seniors Prefer Homecare. As a fully licensed home care agency one of our compassionate respite caregivers can step in and provide your loved one with the nurturing they deserve- when and where you need it. In addition to respite care, our highly trained and carefully screened professionals can deliver “cream of the crop” services including dementia care, household duties, personal care, companionship care and even 24-hour or live-in care.

Our agency’s mission is lifting the spirits of those we serve by helping Alabama seniors maintain their independence with dignity and self-esteem. To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare now, or to schedule a FREE initial consultation for a senior in Tuscaloosa or Huntsville, AL, today, please visit us at: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com!