For all the joy during the holiday season, sometimes preparing your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia for all of the food, family, and fun can be a daunting task. However, with our expertise in providing long term assisted living, short term respite care, and adult day care, we have a number of suggestions to help ease the stress of the holiday season with a loved one who has memory impairment. Whether you are a caregiver or a relative of the affected senior, follow these tips to make your holiday season for your entire family:

For Your Loved One with Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia

• Review pictures of visitors beforehand
• Allow them to help with simple decorations
• Use name tags
• Have a calm room away from the party ready in case the party becomes too frantic
• Have a plan in place in case your loved one exhibits problem behavior

For Visitors and Visiting Relatives

• Ask visitors to call before stopping by
• Alert visitors what to expect when interacting with your loved one
• Plan holiday celebrations for early in the day
• Try to limit the number of guests visiting at once
• Be willing to talk about past events
• Don’t discuss memory impairment with the affected loved one
• Be willing to change your plans if the affected senior isn’t feeling well or becomes tired

For Caregivers

• Allow yourself to have a break with Adult Daycare or Respite Care
• Ask for help with providing care
• Don’t use sharp hooks to hang ornaments
• Communicate with your family about expectations for all events

Don’t use lights or decorations that blink create confusion

• Plan your schedule ahead of time
• Don’t make your schedule too ambitious or too busy
• Don’t leave your loved one alone near candles or fireplaces
• Plan simple activities or activities that focus on the past
• Be aware of sensory overload for the loved one