8 Tips for Caring for a Loved One with Dementia During the Holidays

The holiday season can be a challenging time for caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. While this time of year brings joy and togetherness for many, it can also lead to stress, sadness, and isolation for caregivers and their loved ones dealing with memory loss.

As a caregiver, you may feel overwhelmed trying to maintain holiday traditions, or even just getting through daily tasks typically required during this busy season.

Here are some tips to help caregivers navigate the holidays while caring for someone with dementia:

1. Simplify traditions and events:
   You may need to scale back holiday preparations and avoid busy, overstimulating situations that can trigger confusion or agitation in your loved one. Stick to familiar traditions that are most meaningful. Say no to anything extra that causes unnecessary stress or disruption.
2. Involve your loved one:
   Depending on abilities, include them in holiday preparations like baking, decorating, or making cards. Adjust activities as needed to suit their capabilities. Provide supervision for safety if needed. Focus on enjoyment rather than perfection
3. Give support tools:
   Reminiscence aids like photo albums, favorite decorations, or music can help trigger positive memories and engage your loved one during gatherings. You may also need cue cards, daily calendars, or schedules to help re-orient them to holiday events.
4. Plan respite time:
   Caregiving during the holidays can be especially tiring. Be sure to schedule breaks for yourself when other family or friends can supervise your loved one. Even brief periods of respite are beneficial.
5. Manage expectations:
   Discuss holiday plans and limitations ahead of time with family to set realistic expectations. Accept that things will look different as your loved one’s disease progresses. Focus on providing comfort and including them as able.
6. Provide security through consistency:
   Try to keep daily care routines like meals and sleep schedules consistent despite holiday disruptions. Minimize changes that might disorient or upset your loved one.
7. Make connections:
   If family gatherings are not possible, seek out local dementia respite programs, "adopt a grandparent" community programs, or even virtual gatherings to keep your loved one engaged. Some facilities may also offer special holiday meals or events you can attend.
8. Give yourself the gift of self-care and be willing to accept it from others:
   In our work with those affected by Alzheimer’s at the Memory and Aging Program, we worry about the caregiver as much as the patient. Caregiver stress can be overwhelming if you don’t take time for yourself, too. Your loved one is going to be fine – he or she is well taken care of because you’ve made sure of it. But that’s a big job, and what about you?

   The best holiday gift you can give yourself, or to someone else who is a caregiver, is a break. If someone offers to lighten your load by taking a task off your hands or offering to stay with your loved one while you go out, accept their offer; it is perhaps the most valuable gift they could give you this holiday season.

   If they don’t offer, don’t hesitate to ask! A family member or close friend is sure to be more than willing to spend some time at home with your loved one so that you can go out to enjoy a holiday party on your own, bake cookies with friends, or do some holiday shopping.

Bottomline:

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Learn more about the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry by visiting: https://www.butler.org/memory/registry. 

Disclaimer: The content in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and should not serve as medical advice, consultation, or diagnosis. If you have a medical concern, please consult your healthcare provider, or seek immediate medical treatment.