Caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s is challenging any time of year, but the added stress brought on by the holidays can easily knock you both out of your normal routine. However, it’s important to remember that your loved one is battling a progressive disease that makes each subsequent holiday harder on them. As a result, including a senior with Alzheimer’s in holiday traditions will make them feel special by restoring their sense of belonging. Here are several proven ways to help make the holidays more enjoyable while caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s.

Put on Your Best Face

Seniors who live with Alzheimer’s disease are typically very sensitive to the moods and feelings of those around them. If you’re acting stressed out and anxious, your loved one will probably respond negatively to what they’re sensing. When you start feeling tired and short-tempered around the holidays, try these strategies to decompress:

  • Go to another area of the home for a few minutes, like a bathroom, and do some deep breathing exercises.
  • Take a long walk.
  • Get some extra sleep.
  • Ask a trusted friend or family member to step in for a couple days.

When around your loved one, remember to put on your best face even when it’s hard.

Include Them in Holiday Festivities

Asking someone with Alzheimer’s to help with the holiday preparations will make them feel more connected and accepted. Even if it’s a small project, when you involve them in holiday traditions your loved one will get more enjoyment out of the time they’re spending with you and other family members. Use the opportunity as a bonding moment to share family memories and maybe even pull out some old photos.

Here are some holiday preparations that a senior with Alzheimer’s can assist with:

  • Peeling veggies and potatoes
  • Wrapping gifts
  • Decorating the tree
  • Dusting furniture or wiping down the dining room table
  • Polishing up the good silverware
  • Picking out some Christmas music
  • Rolling out cookie dough and baking cookies

While “supervising”, pay close attention to which tasks bring them joy. Even if your loved one doesn’t do the neatest job or makes a mistake, let them join in. If something needs to be tidied up before your other guests arrive, it’s not the end of the world.

Cut Back on Family Traditions

When caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s, remember that too much stress and responsibility can affect their behavior. To keep them from feeling overwhelmed, scaling down on some of your family traditions will make it easier for your loved one to participate too. Explain to your kids that grandma or grandpa want to be a part of the festivities, and that cutting back on some household traditions is necessary to make it happen.

Having to worry about fewer holiday traditions this year will also give you a break. And, don’t forget to ask your older loved one about past traditions they cherish most, which will probably help them recall some positive memories from their childhood.

Focus on the Little Things

Sometimes it’s easy to get so caught up in holiday traditions like decorating, baking, and shopping that you forget about what’s most important- spending quality time with those you love most. This holiday season be extra forgiving of yourself and your family, while accepting the fact that mistakes happen. Not all holiday gatherings are “Hallmark moments” like those pictured in TV ads, but you can still make them special if you just take the time to focus on the little things.

Need Help During the Holidays? Call Seniors Prefer Homecare

Caring for an aging in place senior with Alzheimer’s during the holidays can be time consuming and stressful. When you need a hand, call Seniors Prefer Homecare. As a fully licensed and insured agency, our carefully screened and highly trained respite caregivers can step in and provide your loved one with the reliable care they need so that they will always feel special and beloved.

While serving as an extended family in your loved one’s home, our aides can perform duties like light housekeeping, personal hygiene, meals, medication reminders, transportation and companionship. And, all our compassionate services can be individually combined within an affordable package when and where you need them! To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare now, or to schedule a FREE, in-home consultation for a senior in Huntsville or Tuscaloosa, AL, today, please visit us at: www.seniorspreferhomecare.com.