Holidays with Dementia: Gifts, Memories, and Family Interactions

The holidays are a time for good food, fun, giving, and sharing special moments with family. When a loved one has dementia, the holidays can bring sadness, stress, and disappointment to families.

A person living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias may feel a sense of loss during the holidays because of the symptoms of their illness. Families may experience the loss of a loved one’s previous contributions to long-time holiday traditions or cherished memories.

Families and caregivers often become overwhelmed during the holiday season as they try to celebrate, uphold family traditions, manage their responsibilities, and care for a loved one with dementia.

Although celebrating the holidays with someone with dementia can be overwhelming, there are helpful tips and strategies to adapt and make the most of this festive time of the year.

Essential Tips for Managing the Holidays with Dementia

Managing the holidays with dementia can be challenging for families. Knowing how to adjust is essential.

Here are some helpful recommendations from the Alzheimer’s Association for managing the holidays when a loved one has dementia.

Adjust Your Expectations

Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are progressive conditions that affect a person's memory, thinking, and behavior.

Even though it may be difficult to accept, your loved one may not be able to engage or perform the way they could before their diagnosis. You and your family members will have new responsibilities. Change your routine and expectations to adjust to your new normal.

Involve Your Loved One

Although your loved one has dementia, they have been a significant part of your holiday celebrations, memories, and traditions for many years. Continue to involve them as much as you can.

Implement Technology

For better or worse, technological advancements have replaced holiday cards and in-person visits. Skype, Facetime, Zoom, and phone calls are great ways to celebrate the holidays with loved ones.

Connecting through technology is a good way to communicate with distant friends and family who may be unable to connect regularly with your loved one.

Adapt Gift Giving

The gifts you gave your loved one before they had dementia may need to change as their disease progresses. Before choosing a gift, consider where your loved one is in their diagnosis and past interests.

Familiarize Others

Let visiting friends and relatives who haven’t seen your loved one in a while know about the dementia diagnosis in advance. This will help prepare them for what to expect and how to communicate effectively with their loved one.

Protect Your Health

Caring for a loved one with dementia is both physically and emotionally exhausting for family caregivers, often requiring significant time, energy, and patience.

In addition to caregiving responsibilities, many family caregivers juggle work, children, and their households, which can make it easy to neglect their own health and well-being.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 74% of dementia caregivers are concerned about their own health since becoming a caregiver, and 70% say coordinating care is stressful.

Health and wellness are crucial for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. It’s especially important for caregivers to prioritize self-care, especially during the busy holiday season.

Additionally, it’s essential to protect the health of people with dementia by ensuring they don’t get overstimulated or stressed.

Holiday Gift Giving for Individuals with Dementia

Giving and receiving gifts is a special part of the holiday season. There’s nothing like seeing a loved one’s eyes light up when they open the perfect gift.

Holiday gift-giving can still be special, even when a loved one has dementia. However, you may need to give more thought to the gifts you select.

Just because a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia doesn’t mean they’re fully engaged in the stages of dementia. During the early stages of dementia, you may not need to change the types of gifts you select.

As the disease progresses, it’s important to make minor adjustments. Consider your loved one’s past hobbies and interests. For example, if your loved one loves golf but can no longer play, consider giving them a golf magazine instead of golfing equipment.

Here are some additional gift-giving tips for individuals with dementia:

• Focus on meaningful dementia-friendly gifts: Choose items that provide comfort, such as cozy pajamas, their favorite beverage, or a textured blanket.
• Choose gifts that engage the senses: Give scented candles, engaging activities, or their favorite foods
• Consider activity-oriented gifts: Select gifts such as puzzles, adult coloring books, or their favorite music
• Avoid complex instructions: Choose gifts that don’t require complicated instructions, making it easier for them to enjoy
• Choose family traditional gifts. These gifts are perfect for evoking memories and linking new memories with old ones
• Give gifts that encourage interaction: Look for games, crafts, and activities that can help improve cognitive functions
  
  

Wrap-up

The holidays are meant to be enjoyed with family. When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, the dynamics and the way you celebrate the holidays may change.

However, you can still enjoy the holiday season's food, family traditions, and fun and find a gift they’ll love with a few tips and adjustments.

To ensure a joyful holiday season, manage your expectations, involve your loved one in the celebrations, and choose thoughtful gifts.