The holiday season can represent a sense of loss for families and friends of clients with dementia. At the same time, it can trigger stressors for clients through changes in routines, the environment, and social interactions. Here are some tips for making holidays as enjoyable as possible for your client or family member despite trigger stressors.
Simplify decorations
Keep decorations simple. Large displays, rearrangement of living spaces, clutter, and blinking lights are examples of holiday decorations that can cause confusion. Keep safety in mind, too. For example, a clients may try to eat decorations that look like edible treats. Fragile decorations could cause accidents. Decorations should be secured so they can’t fall.
Minimize overstimulation
Too much noise, loud conversation, loud music, or intense changes in lighting can cause stress. Keeping the environment calm can help individuals enjoy the experience.
Holiday music
Use music and encourage clients to clap, sing, or move with the music. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease. Often, music can relieve stress, anxiety, & agitation and recommend keeping the volume at a “relaxing” level.
Involve clients
Involving clients in holiday preparations in any way that is patient-appropriate can help familiarize them with upcoming celebrations. Even just observing preparations can be helpful. Some patients may enjoy looking at photo albums or watching a holiday movie.
Have a quiet plan
In case a client becomes anxious or agitated, it’s a good idea to have a quiet plan ready. You may have quiet distractions ready, such as looking at pictures or going for a walk. You want to be sure there is a quiet space available for the client if needed.
Limit visitor counts
For some inviduals, it’s helpful to keep visitor counts low. This could mean arranging for only a few family members to visit at a time.
Prepare visitors
If family or friends are coming to visit, some may not have interacted with the patient for a while and could be surprised by any decline. You can help prepare them by explaining any behaviors they may expect from their loved one, such as wandering, eating with fingers, or other behaviors. Prepare visitors for memory losses, such as a possible inability to recognize them, and explain this is not intentional. Remind visitors to make eye contact, speak slowly, and avoid questions that may be difficult to answer. Explain that they do not need to correct or criticize what client says. Hugs, gentle touches, and friendly body language can set the emotional tone that brings joy to the individual.
Protect against fatigue
Ensuring adequate opportunities for rest will help a client with dementia maximize enjoyment around the holidays.
Happy holidays with dementia
With careful planning and support for families, you can help make holidays fun and fulfilling for clients or family members with dementia. Managed well, holiday closeness can enhance quality of life for the client and their loved ones.