The holidays are a time of traditions and family celebrations. For seniors living with dementia, however, the holidays can be especially disorienting. The unfamiliar sights and sounds of the season can be overwhelming and even frightening. As a caregiver for a senior living in New York City, it's important to understand how to modify holiday traditions so that seniors with dementia can enjoy the season as much as possible.
Here are 5 disorienting holiday traditions and how to modify them for seniors with dementia.
1. Attending Holiday Parties
Suppose your senior loved one has difficulty attending large gatherings. In that case, you may consider hosting a smaller gathering at home or attending a smaller holiday party instead of a large one with many people present. You should also plan ahead and make sure there is enough seating for those who need it, plenty of food and drinks, and plenty of activities that are appropriate for everyone in attendance. You may also want to limit loud noises, such as music or fireworks, if they cause your loved one distress.
2. Sending Cards
Having your senior loved one send cards may not be an option if they have difficulty writing or addressing envelopes correctly due to their dementia diagnosis. There are some great online options where you can easily customize cards and have them sent directly from their computer without needing any manual help from them.
3. Decorating the Home
If your senior loved one is having difficulty understanding why their home is suddenly filled with decorations, try limiting the number of decorations used in your home this year. Try using fewer decorations that aren't too flashy or distracting. You might also consider replacing traditional decorations with more meaningful items such as family photos or mementos from past holidays instead.
4. Shopping for Gifts
Shopping for gifts can be difficult for seniors living with dementia since they may not remember who they need to purchase gifts for or what type of gifts would be most appreciated by the recipient. Consider purchasing gift cards instead of specific items so that your loved one does not have to worry about figuring out what type of gift someone would like best – just hand over the card when it's time to give presents.
5. Participating in Religious Services
If attending religious services is part of your family tradition around the holidays, but your senior loved one is feeling overwhelmed by it all, try limiting their participation this year by only going once instead of multiple times throughout the season. Also, make sure that you plan ahead by finding out if there will be any loud music or lengthy prayers during services so that you know if these things will cause distress before attending services together.
Get the Best Dementia Care From Senior Helpers New York
With a little bit of planning and an understanding attitude towards seniors living with dementia, modifying these 5 common holiday traditions doesn't have to take away from anyone's enjoyment during this festive season.
By taking into consideration each person's needs while still making sure everyone feels included in special moments together, Senior Helpers New York City ensures that every senior enjoys their own unique version of holiday cheer this year.
Allow us to make this holiday season the most enjoyable and memorable yet, with our compassionate and dedicated dementia caregivers in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Contact us to schedule an in-home assessment.