'Tis the season for all of the holiday hoopla. Decorating homes, baking special treats, shopping for just the right gift, and family gatherings are upon us. This time of year, while normally filled with joy and excitement, may now be sprinkled with frustration and uncertainty. Your loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer's this year, and you may be wondering how different this holiday season will be compared to years past. We have compiled some helpful tips for making this first holiday season with Alzheimer’s a joyous occasion.
First Holiday Season With Alzheimer's Helpful Tips
Identify What's Important
Things may be quite different this year compared to the last holiday season, depending on the stage of your senior parent's diagnosis. You may be accustomed to multiple events to celebrate the holidays each year, but this may not be a feasible option this year. Take some time to identify which traditions mean the most to you and your family. Once this list has been assembled, figure out which parts of the traditions may need to be modified to accommodate your loved one's abilities and tolerance.
Old traditions can become new ones with a few minor adjustments. Try to keep the gatherings smaller and allow rest time or time away from the busy atmosphere, such as a walk or a quiet corner to look through photo albums. Instead of elaborate spreads on the dinner table, opt for a more modest assortment of food items. The Mayo Clinic also recommends celebrating in an environment that is most familiar to your loved one. This will help minimize any distress that may be experienced due to the change in routine that the holidays can bring.
Include Your Loved One
Keep your senior parent as involved as possible with the preparations for the holiday celebrations. Sing old, familiar songs together. The National Institute on Aging encourages caregivers to allow their loved one to assist in simple tasks while preparing meals and baking desserts. Even just having them nearby and watching the preparations happen can help instill a sense of joy and anticipation for the upcoming gatherings.
Also, consider discussing with your senior parent what traditions they have fond memories of so that you can be sure to include those events in your holiday planning.
Prepare Guests (Especially Young Ones)
The holidays are a time for gathering, and there is a high likelihood that some guests will be attending the festivities that haven't seen your senior parent in a while. Help them to understand your loved one's condition and what to generally expect when visiting with your loved one. The Alzheimer's Association has some good information about preparing others, including reminding them that any behavior or memory changes are caused by the disease and are not a reflection of your loved one's feelings toward them. Remind your guests that the best way to interact with your senior parent is to be patient, allow time to finish thoughts, and not interrupt or correct your loved one.
Also, remind younger guests to be careful when playing around your senior parent as they may not be able to balance as well as they used to. A discussion about the fact that their loved one may not remember them or may call them by a different name is also important to have. This may prevent any hurt feelings that may occur.
Prepare Your Loved One
Finally, it is also important to prepare your loved one for the events. By allowing them to help set up decorations, make food, and bake cookies, you will be giving them the opportunity to possibly get excited about the upcoming celebrations. In addition, you can pull out photos of the guests that will be attending so that you can familiarize your loved one with the faces and names of the people coming. You can also arrange a phone call between your senior parent and the guests attending so that both parties can familiarize themselves with one another, your loved one can hear the voice they will hear at the gathering, and the guest can get an idea for what to expect from your loved one.
It's also important to try to keep the routine as normal as possible during holiday celebrations and ensure there is plenty of time for your loved one to rest.
In Need of More Help?
If you are overwhelmed and unsure about how to handle the holidays and any other upcoming gatherings with your senior parent, you may be interested in having a companion service to turn to. Senior Helpers Western Kentucky offers in-home senior care services and may be able to help your holidays run a bit more smoothly this year and many years to come. If you are in the Hopkinsville, Paducah, Murray, or Madisonville areas, contact us today to see what we can do for you.