Memory Care

Holidays are important times the of year for families to come together, and keeping our loved ones living with Alzheimer’s involved in family traditions continues to be critically important. By incorporating them in their favorite activities and taking steps to prepare both the senior and other family members for celebratory events, families can create new memories while fostering a connection with seniors on a deeper level. Caregivers should take the following steps in order to prepare the person who is living with Alzheimer’s as well as tailor holiday celebrations for Alzheimer’s patients. Talk about and show pictures of the people who are coming to visit. People with Alzheimer’s may recognize faces of family members and friends, but may be unable to recall names; in this case, name tags are helpful. Incorporate favorite traditions from the past—play familiar holiday music and serve favorite traditional holiday foods. Slow the pace of the activities to allow the person with Alzheimer’s to comprehend as well as enjoy the sensory pleasure from the activity. If there is no interest when an activity is first introduced, try again later. Prepare for distractions beforehand to divert attention if problem behavior occurs, and have a "quiet" room if things get too hectic—have a familiar person stay with them so they don’t feel isolated or left out. By following these suggestions and making important adaptations in holiday celebrations for Alzheimer’s patients, the holidays can still be enjoyable for all family members and leave you with positive and lasting memories of these times spent with your loved one.

Visiting your loved one once they have moved into a community for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may not be easy and sometimes may feel overwhelming to you. First, be prepared for the fact that an individual with Alzheimer’s may perform at one level one day and differently on another day. In advance of the visit, try to prepare yourself for the possibility that your loved one may not recognize you.

Begin each visit by introducing yourself and calling your loved one by name—calling someone by their name can help put them at ease, assuring them that you are a familiar person. Come prepared to participate in activity that interests your loved one such as walking, looking through a magazine, doing a manicure, etc. These shared experiences may make the visit more rewarding for both you and your loved one. Visits can be especially difficult when a loved one can no longer interact as they once did. Activities that engage their senses may be the most successful. Try listening to music and/or singing familiar songs, participating in spiritual practices, looking at familiar pictures, sharing a snack or just sitting and holding hands. When it comes to chatting, avoid rushing your loved one during conversations; often they need extra time to respond. Also avoid open-ended questions that may put your loved on the spot such as, “What did you have for breakfast?” Try making statements that help prompt your loved one to answer a simple question. For instance, you might say, “I heard you were gardening this morning. You have always loved planting flowers. Did you enjoy yourself?”