The holidays are a time for loved ones to gather and reminisce about the past year. If a family member is struggling with memory loss, it’s helpful to understand more about memory loss and learn strategies for keeping the holidays a positive experience for everyone. Sometimes, just having to be around so many people at once can be overwhelming and confusing to those with memory loss or dementia. Try these tips to ensure everyone can enjoy the festivities:
Follow family traditions
Think back to past holidays. What did you do one year that you also did the next? These traditions are a huge part of what makes celebrating the holidays fun. You may always make the same meal, for example, or perhaps you usually host a Christmas cookie decorating party. Ask your loved ones what traditions they want to follow this year. It’s often easier to recall traditions from childhood than events from last week.
Talk about holidays past
One of the most frustrating parts for many families of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is trying to understand how the seniors’ memories work. You could ask the person what he or she had for lunch 10 minutes ago and receive an, “I don’t know.” However, that individual may be able to tell stories in great detail about when grandkids were born 20 years ago. Ask your senior loved one about past holidays during this season. He or she may surprise you by becoming animated while recounting skating on frozen ponds as a kid and stealing the cookies with the most frosting. You get to enjoy seeing your loved one light up while learning about fun memories you may not already know.
Look at photos
The holidays can also be tough for individuals with memory loss because they can’t remember who everyone is. They may be able to name the entire family, but pairing those names with faces is a different story. Help your senior relative understand who everyone is at a holiday gathering by showing him or her photos ahead of time. If you show a photo of a child when he or she was a baby, this may better jog the senior’s memory. It’s also important to make connections between relatives. You can help by discreetly reminding your loved one whose daughter or son a family member is, and making other links between the family members. Memory loss can quickly become frustrating, so suggest that the senior retreats to a spare room to rest if that is necessary. A quick nap or simple few moments of quiet can help reset the senior’s brain and ready him or her to return to the party.
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