How to Celebrate Holidays With Seniors Who Have Dementia

Prepare Your Guests – If you are celebrating the holidays with a family member who has dementia, make sure that all the other family members and friends know what to expect from this celebration.

If they never met your loved one before, they must be prepared for any reactions or reactions from your loved one during the day or evening.

Consider arranging for another person, such as an assistant or relative, to help with meal preparation so that you can spend more time with your loved one during this time together as a family unit.

Think About Their Memory – Consider how your loved one’s memory will affect their ability to participate in activities like planning or shopping for gifts.

Suppose they’re able to participate fully. Great! But if not, there’s no shame in asking friends and other family members to help with these tasks.

Be Proactive About Holiday Traditions – The best way to start a holiday tradition is by planning it. First, ask your loved one what they like and dislike about the holidays, and then make sure you plan accordingly.

Choose a new tradition for them, or keep the old one going but add something new.

If you have a big family, consider hosting get-togethers on the weekends before, during, and after Christmas so that everyone can enjoy together time without feeling rushed or stressed out.

Make a Festive Meal – Cooking is a great way to get your loved one excited about the holidays and can be a great way to keep them comfortable.

You can turn a simple meal of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce into a memorable event by adding some trimmings, such as a nice green salad with roasted vegetables.

And if you have time, try making some homemade cookies for dessert!

Don’t Forget Medications – Keep track of medications and other supplies that are used regularly by seniors with dementia.

Make sure to follow any special diets or instructions carefully, if possible, especially when going out in public, so that caregivers don’t have to worry about what may happen when the person forgets their meds.

Be Flexible – Be willing to change your plans and make accommodations for your loved one if necessary. For example, if your family wants to have a large Christmas meal at home, but your loved one is not up for going out, consider having a small dinner at home.

Or try taking advantage of local restaurants offering special meals for seniors with dementia.

Make it Fun – If your loved one has dementia, don’t treat this as just another day — make it unique with balloons and streamers for good luck, or dress up like Santa Claus! Use music and activities that will keep them engaged without creating stress for yourself or others around them (for example: singing Christmas carols together). If you want to do something outdoors, go early in the morning when it won’t be so crowded; otherwise, consider taking them somewhere else instead of home after dinner.