The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and connection. For caregivers of someone living with dementia, this time of year presents a unique opportunity to involve loved ones in the caregiving journey. Sharing the responsibilities and creating moments of joy together can lighten the load, deepen relationships, and provide comfort for the person you care for.
This guide offers practical ways to encourage and guide family and friends to be involved in dementia care, especially during the holidays.
1. Educate Family and Friends About Dementia
Why it Matters:
Understanding dementia helps family and friends feel more confident and empathetic in their interactions. Knowledge can reduce misunderstandings and hesitation.
Understanding dementia helps family and friends feel more confident and empathetic in their interactions. Knowledge can reduce misunderstandings and hesitation.
Tips to Educate:
- Share resources: Provide simple guides or videos about dementia, such as The Alzheimer’s Association’s Communication Tips. Understanding Dementia: What It Is and the 4 Most Common Forms and Understanding the Different Stages of Dementia: A Caregiver's Guide to Managing Progression from our collection of blog posts, are also very helpful and simple explanations to help gain understanding.
- Explain current needs: Offer specific examples of how dementia affects the person’s daily life and the support they may need.
- Answer questions: Encourage family and friends to ask questions about dementia and caregiving so they feel comfortable engaging.
Holiday Example: Before a holiday gathering, share information about how the person’s condition may affect their behavior during the event and provide suggestions for positive interactions.
2. Delegate Tasks and Responsibilities
Why it Matters:
Many loved ones want to help but may not know how. Giving them specific, manageable tasks empowers them to contribute meaningfully.
Many loved ones want to help but may not know how. Giving them specific, manageable tasks empowers them to contribute meaningfully.
Ways to Delegate:
- Start small: Ask them to help with something simple, like preparing a favorite holiday dish or organizing holiday photos for reminiscing.
- Focus on strengths: Match tasks with their interests or skills. For example, someone who loves crafting can help create dementia-friendly decorations.
- Offer guidance: Be clear about the task, why it’s important, and how it helps the person with dementia.
Holiday Example: Assign a family member to sit with the person you care for and look through old photo albums or share holiday stories while others prepare the meal.
3. Involve Them in Holiday Activities
Why it Matters:
Participating in shared activities strengthens bonds and helps create joyful moments for everyone.
Participating in shared activities strengthens bonds and helps create joyful moments for everyone.
Ideas for Inclusive Activities:
- Cooking or baking together: Assign simple, safe tasks to family members and the person with dementia, like stirring batter or sprinkling sugar on cookies.
- Singing holiday songs: Music is powerful for evoking memories and lifting moods, so invite everyone to join in singing carols.
- Holiday crafts: Create simple decorations, like paper snowflakes or hand-decorated ornaments, that the person with dementia can enjoy making with others.
Holiday Example: Set up a family cookie-decorating station where everyone can participate at their own pace, including the person you care for.
4. Encourage Meaningful Connections
Why it Matters:
Focusing on connection instead of perfection allows everyone to enjoy time together without unnecessary pressure.
Focusing on connection instead of perfection allows everyone to enjoy time together without unnecessary pressure.
Ways to Foster Connection:
- One-on-one time: Encourage family members to spend a few quiet minutes alone with the person you care for, sharing stories or reminiscing.
- Validation: Teach family and friends to meet the person with dementia where they are by validating their feelings and engaging in their reality.
- Shared memories: Suggest using memory prompts like photo albums, old videos, or holiday keepsakes to spark meaningful conversations.
Holiday Example: Provide a box of family heirlooms or holiday ornaments and invite loved ones to share stories about each item with the person you care for.
5. Create a Supportive Environment
Why it Matters:
The holiday season can be overstimulating for someone with dementia. A calm and organized environment helps everyone feel more comfortable.
The holiday season can be overstimulating for someone with dementia. A calm and organized environment helps everyone feel more comfortable.
Tips for a Supportive Setting:
- Plan ahead: Set a holiday schedule that includes quiet time for rest. Share the plan with family and friends so they can help maintain it.
- Reduce sensory overload: Keep decorations simple and avoid flashing lights or loud music.
- Set realistic expectations: Let loved ones know that flexibility and patience are key to creating a positive experience.
Holiday Example: Create a “quiet corner” with a cozy chair, a weighted lap blanket, and soft music where the person with dementia can take breaks if the festivities become overwhelming.
6. Show Appreciation and Acknowledge Efforts
Why it Matters:
Family and friends are more likely to stay involved if they feel appreciated and know their contributions make a difference.
Family and friends are more likely to stay involved if they feel appreciated and know their contributions make a difference.
Ways to Express Gratitude:
- Say thank you: A simple acknowledgment of their help goes a long way.
- Share positive feedback: Let them know how their involvement has positively impacted the person you care for.
- Include them in the journey: Keep them updated on progress and challenges so they feel connected to the caregiving process.
Holiday Example: Send a handwritten thank-you note or small gift, like a homemade ornament, to family and friends who helped make the season special.
Recommended Products for Family and Friend Engagement
- Dementia Care Books: Offer resources like The 36-Hour Day to help loved ones better understand dementia. check it out on amazon
- Holiday Memory Games: Use simple, dementia-friendly games that everyone can enjoy together. Check it out on Etsy
- Weighted Lap Blankets: Provide comfort for the person with dementia during gatherings. check it out on amazon
- Photo Albums or Scrapbook Kits: Encourage reminiscing and storytelling with easy-to-use albums. Check it out on amazon
Final Thoughts
The holidays are a time for togetherness, and engaging family and friends in dementia care can make this season more joyful for everyone. By educating, involving, and creating meaningful connections, you can share the caregiving journey while building cherished memories.
Call to Action:
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A Better Way - Dementia Care Solutions, LLC participates in the Amazon Associates Program, which means we earn a small commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products that we believe can help caregivers on their journey.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or a licensed physical therapist before starting any new exercise routine, using assistive devices, or following the recommendations mentioned. Every individual’s needs are different, and professional guidance is essential to ensure safety and appropriateness of care.
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