Holidays are something we all want to enjoy and celebrate, whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, Anniversaries, Birthdays, etc. But those moments of joy can be lessened if caregivers don’t take the necessary steps to make sure their loved one with some form of dementia isn’t taken into consideration.
There is a wonderful ad on TV this year regarding this very topic that has been sponsored by Chevrolet. A very moving, touching ad if you haven’t seen it already.
So here are a few tips that may make your holiday celebrations more festive.
- Keep your celebration as simple as possible. Instead of inviting 25 people, perhaps you only invite 10-12.
- Make sure the invited guests know what to expect when Grandpa is present. That can alleviate lots of awkward moments.
- It might be appropriate to prepare your loved one’s plate for him instead of having him go through a long buffet line, where seeing too much food can become overwhelming.
- Knowing Grandpa’s favorite foods, means they can be chosen for him and in smaller quantities. Too much food on a patient’s plate can also be too overwhelming. There’s always room for seconds!
- We know loud noises and lots of activity can be very distracting for our dementia patient’s… kids…dogs… loud and lots of voices!
- Make sure you have a quiet place for Grandpa to rest if needed.
- If he is living in a memory are community, perhaps he arrives just before you are ready to sit down and eat, rather than 1-2 hours before of hors d’oeuvres and football games.
- Grandpa might also have a favorite food that you know he will always eat, even if it isn’t part of the typical holiday celebration. Make sure he can enjoy that.
These are all simple steps that families can take in order to have a great celebration and also involve Grandpa in making more memories for adult kids and grandkids.
Happy Holidays ! Merry Christmas ! Happy Hanukkah !
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