The holidays are a time when family and friends come together. For families with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, these occasions can present unique challenges. However, with some planning and adjusted expectations, your celebrations can still be joyful.

During the holidays, you may have visitors who haven’t seen your loved one in a while. They might notice some changes since their last encounter. If your loved one is in the early stages of dementia, they may not have experienced many noticeable changes yet. However, those in the middle or late stages may show significant differences in their behavior or abilities.

Sharing Holiday Traditions When Home is Away

A holiday remains a holiday whether it is celebrated in your home or in your loved one’s senior living community. Even if your loved one cannot come home for the holidays, there are many ways to celebrate together:

• Participate in Community Events: Join your loved one in holiday events organized by their community.
• Share Recipes: Your loved one can share their favorite recipe with the Life Enrichment Director to be used in a cooking group, or you can bring a beloved holiday treat to share.
• Meaningful Decorations: Bring decorations that hold special meaning for your loved one, such as a small tree or an electric menorah.
• Engage with Memories: Focus on activities that are meaningful to the person with dementia. The holidays often evoke long-term memories and traditions, so using pictures and prompts can help your loved one recall memories and engage in discussions.
• Enjoy Familiar Activities: Your family member might find comfort in singing old holiday songs, watching favorite holiday movies, or looking through old photo albums. Invite other residents, friends, and family to join in.
• Involve Them in Preparations: Depending on their abilities, invite your loved one to help prepare food, wrap gifts, send cards, or decorate. This could be as simple as having them measure an ingredient or hand you decorations as you set them up. (Be cautious with your decoration choices; blinking lights may confuse or scare someone with dementia, and decorative items that resemble food could be mistaken for something edible.)

Changes can be hard to accept, so it’s important to inform out-of-town guests about what to expect. Ensure they understand that changes in behavior and memory are related to the disease process. Encourage visitors to be patient, avoid interrupting or correcting your loved one, and allow them the time they need to finish their thoughts.

The holiday season brings unique challenges for families with loved ones living with dementia, but it also offers opportunities for meaningful connections. By adapting traditions, involving your loved one in activities, and preparing visitors for changes, you can create warm and joyful celebrations. Remember that the essence of the holidays lies in togetherness and shared moments, not perfection. Embrace flexibility and focus on what truly matters – the love and bond you share with your family member.