Page 58 - December 2022 Issue.indd

family, friends, and neighbors during • Try to avoid situations that may
holidays. confuse or frustrate the person
with dementia, such as crowds,
Finding the Right Balance changes in routine, and strange
Many caregivers have mixed feelings places. Also try to stay away

about holidays. They may have happy from noise, loud conversations,
memories of the past, but they also may loud music, lighting that is
worry about the extra demands that too bright or too dark, and
holidays make on their time and energy. having too much rich food or

Here are some ways to balance doing drink (especially alcohol).
many holiday-related activities while • Find time for holiday activities ĂŝůLJ ĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ
taking care of your own needs and those you like to do. If you receive RN on Call
of the person with dementia: invitations to celebrations that ,ŽŵĞ ŽŽŬĞĚ DĞĂůƐ͕
• Celebrate holidays that are the person with dementia cannot ^ŶĂĐŬƐ Θ ĞǀĞƌĂŐĞƐ
important to you. Include attend, go yourself. Ask a friend >ĂƵŶĚƌLJ Θ ,ŽƵƐĞŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ
the person with dementia or family member to spend time >ŝĐĞŶƐĞĚ ƚŽ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ
as much as possible. with the person while you’re out. ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ >ĞǀĞůƐ ϭ͕Ϯ͕ϯ
DĞŵŽƌLJ ĂƌĞ
• Set your own limits, and • Don’t wear yourself out
be clear about them with attempting to make the holidays ^ƉĞĐŝĂů ŝĞƚ Θ ŝŶŝŶŐ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ
others. You do not have to “happy” for everyone. If you don’t WŽƐƚͲƌĞŚĂďŝůŝƚĂƟŽŶ WĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ
live up to the expectations get yourself in a situation where ǁŝƚŚ ŽĐƚŽƌƐ ĂŶĚ dŚĞƌĂƉŝƐƚƐ
of friends or relatives. Your you “overdo” you’ll be more alert ĂŶĚ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ͘͘͘
situation is diff erent now. to hazards—even emotional ones. www.arcadia-living.com
Holidays bring emotions to the
• Involve the person with dementia
in simple holiday preparations, surface because they hold the
most intense memories for your
or have him or her observe your
loved ones, and some may not be
preparations. Observing you will
pleasant. You may find that tears Come Home to Arcadia

familiarize him or her with the
fall for no apparent reason, or
upcoming festivities. Participating suddenly your loved one seems
with you may give the person the gruff or annoyed. We never Preparing Guests

pleasure of helping and the fun Explain to guests that the person with
of anticipating and reminiscing. know what precipitates these dementia disease does not always
reactions; we only have to deal remember what is expected and
• Consider simplifying your with them. People don’t intend acceptable. Give examples of unusual
holidays around the home. For to be grumpy, distant or to give behaviors that may take place such as
example, rather than cooking an you a hard time. Th ese behaviors incontinence, eating food with fi ngers,
elaborate dinner, invite family may simply be a way of asking wandering, or hallucinations.
and friends for a potluck. Instead for help. The best way to give it

of elaborate decorations, consider is by remaining patient, off ering If this is the fi rst visit since the person
choosing a few select items. consistent encouragement, with dementia became severely
• Encourage friends and family and setting safe boundaries. impaired, tell guests that the visit may be

painful. The memory-impaired person
to visit even if it’s diffi cult.
Holiday Home Safety Tips may not remember guests’ names or
Limit the number of visitors
Holiday decorations, such as Christmas relationships but can still enjoy their
at any one time, or have a few trees, lights, or menorahs, should be
people visit quietly with the secured so that they do not fall or catch company.
person in a separate room. • Explain that memory loss
Plan visits when the person on fire. Anything flammable should is the result of the disease
be monitored at all times, and extra
usually is at his or her best. and is not intentional.
precautions should be taken so that
• Prepare quiet distractions to use, lights or anything breakable are fi xed • Stress that the meaningfulness
such as a family photo album, fi rmly, correctly, and out of the way of of the moment together
if the person with dementia those with dementia disease. Candles matters more than what
becomes upset or overstimulated. should never be lit without supervision. the person remembers.
• Make sure there is a space where When not in use, they should be put For more information, visit Helping
the person can rest when he or away. Also, try to avoid clutter, especially Family and Friends Understand
she goes to larger gatherings. in walkways, during the holidays. Alzheimer’s.
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