Holidays Pose Challenge for Alzheimer’s Care

While the holiday season is most often associated with good times – friends, family, celebrations – it can be a time of challenge both for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Three points to consider can help make your holidays all they can be.

• To enhance your experience and that of the Alzheimer’s patient, let them assist in some of the routines of the holidays, such as decorating a tree or setting out packages. (But be careful not to over-stimulate. Bright lights and large gatherings can add to an Alzheimer’s sufferer’s confusion. So keep things simple.)
• Be sure to pay attention to your needs as well. Don’t be so consumed with your loved one that you don’t make time to enjoy the season as well. “Try asking friends or family members to help watch your loved one so you can run errands or take time for you,” said Vicky Abdella, an aging services professional in Ohio.
• Finally, avoid dwelling on the past, on what was or what may have been lost because of Alzheimer’s-related dementia. “Don’t think about how much has changed,” Abdella told the Chillicothe Gazette.

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