For many, the holidays are a time for families and friends to gather and for joyous celebrations. Even though the holidays are enjoyable, they can be demanding. And when a loved one has dementia, the holidays can be both joyous and stressful. If you are a caregiver, have you ever hoped for a bit of guidance or assistance to keep the gatherings peaceful and meaningful?
The program Caregiving Through the Holidays will be presented at The Dale Association, 33 Ontario St., Lockport, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Caregiving responsibilities layered on top of keeping up with holiday traditions can take its toll on dementia families, especially the caregiver. The person with dementia may also feel a sense of loss during the holidays. With some planning and adjusted expectations, your celebrations can be filled with joy and magical moments to cherish forever.
No one, including yourself, should expect you to maintain every holiday tradition or event. Give yourself permission to do only what you can reasonably manage; choose holiday activities and traditions that are most important to you.
Some things to consider:
• Host a small family dinner instead of a throwing a big holiday party.
• Serve a catered or takeout holiday meal. Many grocery stores and restaurants offer meals to go.
• Start a new tradition — have a potluck dinner where family or friends each bring a dish.
There are many manageable activities your loved one and you can do together to involve them in the festivities, such as: wrap gifts; bake favorite holiday recipes (your loved one can stir batter or decorate cookies); set the table (avoiding centerpieces with candles and artificial fruits that could be mistaken for edible snacks); prepare simple foods such as appetizers; read cards received; look through photo albums or scrapbooks and reminisce about people in the pictures and past events; watch a favorite holiday movie; sing favorite carols or read biblical passages.
Caregiving Through the Holidays is presented by the Alzheimer’s Association. The program is free and will include practical tips that assist with developing realistic expectations for the holiday season and enhance communication skills and caregiving strategies. Light refreshments will be provided. Call 716-433-1886 to reserve your seat.