Valentine's Day is often a joyful occasion, filled with fond memories and fun expressions of love. But for families who have loved ones living with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia, the day may bring feelings of apprehension instead. It can be difficult to know how to make Valentine's Day special for your elderly loved one when they are dealing with memory loss and behavioral changes – especially when many traditional activities aren't possible anymore. Fortunately, there are ways that you can create meaningful moments on Valentine's Day and beyond, which will help you positively show your affection regardless of their condition.
Preparing for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and the best way to ensure that those affected by dementia feel included in the day's festivities is to create a positive environment in advance. Take some time beforehand to look for meaningful activities or decorations that your elderly loved one can enjoy. Consider setting up cards, photo frames with special memories, or handmade Valentine's crafts. With their condition, it won't be enough to just have decorations; consider engaging them in putting items together themselves or providing tactile stimulation through touch such as soft blankets they can hold while looking at pictures.
Celebrating Valentine's Day
It's important to think of ways to make the day special, such as playing your elderly loved one's favorite music, sharing a movie they love, or gently leading them in a discussion about their warmest memories. If you have an in-home senior care provider for your loved one, discuss with them ahead of time how the caregiver can help create a pleasant atmosphere on Valentine's Day for the patient and family.
When planning Valentine's Day activities for those living with dementia, it is best to keep things low-stress. Keep the conversation simple and focus more on showing affection through symbols rather than words if their memory loss makes conversations difficult. It may help to use familiar phrases and anecdotes when talking with them. Try not to overstimulate by having too many visitors at once and consider shortening the visit time should your elderly loved one appear tired or overwhelmed.
Above all, if you've planned for specific Valentine's Day activities, be flexible and patient. Every day living with Alzheimer's or dementia has its ups and downs so let your loved one set the pace.
Celebrating Love, No Matter the Circumstances
At Senior Helpers of New York City, we know Valentine's Day is about celebrating love, and even those living with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia can still enjoy special moments despite memory loss or confusion. With a bit of preparation and by making the day low-stress, families can make sure that everyone feels the love. Though dementia often brings difficult times, focus on creating positive memories. If your senior loved one lives in New York City, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or the surrounding areas, contact us to learn more about our care philosophy and how we can help you provide the best care for a senior loved one.