Tips for an Easier Holiday Cooking for Seniors with Dementia

8 Tips and Tricks for Hectic Holiday Cooking If You Have Dementia

The holidays are here, signifying wonderful get-togethers and delicious meals with friends and family. Cooking the season's meals have always brought great joy, creating family recipes and sharing good tastes of winter and the holidays with others. Dementia needn't stop that. Here are some helpful holiday cooking tips for seniors this holiday season.

Family Recipes

Seniors can dig into family cookbooks and recipe boxes for tried and true family recipes. Having familiarity with the instructions will make cooking the dish easier to cook. They can look for recipes with fewer steps and fewer ingredients to measure. Simplicity is the key; simple recipes create incredible dishes!

Timing

The time of day may contribute to symptoms of dementia in senior loved ones, including fatigue. Seniors with dementia can start their holiday cooking once their well-rested, or plan to serve dinner earlier. Adult children can also help their senior loved ones and ask them to focus on a dish or two, perhaps the main dish and a dessert from the family recipe book.

Enlist Help

Seniors can also say yes to offers of help and ask others to help along the way. Family and friends will gladly assist and enjoy quality time in the kitchen. Ask for others to bring dishes to share; start a sign-up so everyone sees the menu and can contribute a dish that complements other items.

Music

Playing the season's music is a powerful way to bring calm and focus to senior loved ones. Enjoy favorites piped into the kitchen while preparing the food. Adult children and other family members can also enjoy the music with their senior loved ones by humming or singing along. Take a break and dance!

Distraction-free Workspace

Kitchens can be bustling with activity. Adult children can help create calm for their senior loved ones by eliminating distractions. Quiet the telephone and silence alarms, announcements, and timers until necessary. The kitchen should be free of chaos for seniors. Allow others to tend to the doorbell or other interruptions.

Safety First

A well-stocked kitchen includes items designed to thwart emergencies, such as a fire extinguisher for fires. Additional safety measures include readily available pot holders, keeping pan handles facing inward, and keeping loose clothing and towels away from heat sources. Make a note to turn off the burners on the stove and turn the oven off when finished. All of this creates a safer environment for elderly loved ones once they start their holiday cooking.

Understand Limitations

Dementia in senior family members may dull the senses, so it's always advisable to have oven mitts to protect their hands when pulling something out of the oven or microwave. Also, seniors may feel overwhelmed with no warning. Adult children can turn heat sources off and take a break with them. Sit in a quiet area and rest. Fatigue may also take over for them; take a break or call in another to finish the task.

Make a List

Lists are an excellent tool for keeping anyone on track. Seniors and their adult children can prepare their holiday cooking by making lists of the dishes for a meal, for needed ingredients, and for tasks that need accomplishing.

Most of all, it's important to enjoy the moments with family members this holiday season. If seniors still need help with holiday cooking and other tasks, Senior Helpers is here. We are Southwest Pittsburgh's premiere provider of in-home care services for seniors living in Pittsburgh, Bethel Park, Bridgeville, Allegheny County, and Washington County areas, allowing seniors to live their best lives at home.