Helping Families of Seniors with Alzheimer’s Celebrate the Holidays

By Tina Rowley from the Home Instead Senior Care office in Birmingham, Michigan.

Q. This will be the first holiday season where our 85-year-old father’s Alzheimer’s disease has progressed to the point that he doesn’t recognize many of his family members. As his primary caregiver, how can I arrange a holiday that has some of the festivities of years past without become even more stressed-out than I am already?

It may be difficult to look forward to the holidays when a beloved family member is not himself. That’s why you’ll need to take special care this year to ensure that the season is as festive as possible. We looked to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (http://www.alzfdn.org/education-care/holidays.shtml) for suggestions:

Communicate concerns. In advance of the holidays, be candid with family and friends about your loved one’s condition and your concerns, and enlist their support. Use this season of giving as an opportunity to discuss sharing family responsibilities and to strive for family togetherness.

Set realistic expectations. Consider both what the individual with dementia is capable of and what you, as a caregiver, can handle given your demanding role. Then, put celebrations into manageable proportions. This can help decrease stress and head off feelings of depression that stem from unrealistic expectations, both for you and your loved one.

Adapt family gatherings. Since crowds, noise and altering routines can aggravate confusion and other behavioral problems, revising your get-togethers may be in order. For example, instead of entertaining the whole clan, limit the number of attendees at a holiday dinner or spread out several smaller gatherings on different days.

Pare down traditions. With round-the-clock caregiving, it may not be feasible to juggle all of your religious and ethnic observances. You can still keep traditions alive; just reduce their number to avoid feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Ask your loved one which traditions to choose, since it will be another way to involve him.

Why not enlist some extra help, as well? There’s no better time of year to seek respite than the holidays. Consider asking a friend to stay with your father so that you can make holiday preparations—or, better yet, relax and enjoy this festive time of year. If you don’t have help, call Home Instead Senior Care. Respite assistance is one of the company’s most requested services.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Bert Copple at 248-904-8455 or visit www.homeinstead.com.

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What about you?  Do you have any feedback on ideas on how a family can better cope and celebrate with their loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s?  Let us know and post a response here!