Scale down traditional holiday activitiesAvoid crowds, loud noise, alcohol, changes in routine & Sleep Patterns, and Medication Schedules. Alert Family that Has Not Seen your loved one of any changes and what their needs are. Send out a letter or email before they arrive for a visit Realize that they may tire more easily and need to return to their apartment or room sooner than you think
The stress of caregiving layered with holiday traditions can take a toll. Only do what you know you can manage Be flexible and do a variation of what you always did, swap out to evening or morning whichever is best for your loved one Involve your loved one with traditions from the past and memories. If it is cooking or setting a table. If it is a male, allow him to help on a small scale with things that he was normally responsible for.
CHRISTMAS VIDEO
Arrange some quiet time for yourself during and after the holidays in order to wind down without wiping yourself out.
Use gift bags for your loved one, boxes that are wrapped up with tape and bows are too hard to navigate.
Never forget to buy yourself a present from your loved one since they are not able to go out and purchase one for you. It helps when you are opening presents and they think that they have bought you something. Choose a present in a category that they would have normally given to you.
Tone down decorations, even if it is in a facility and in their room. Don’t use blinking lights because they can cause disorientation. Avoid using lighted candles and decorations that could be mistaken for edible fruit.
If they are visiting from a facility, have things in place like a baby monitor in their room so you can hear them if they need you
Take up rugs that they could trip on, have toilet seats and home medical equipment that they are used to at their facility.
Have on hand a list of their medications, copies of insurance cards and a copy of your power of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship if an emergency visit has to be made to a hospital.
Remember family and friends who have offered to help and really want to help!
They would feel much better helping if they know it is something that you need such as running errands, sitting with your loved one, addressing cards or making a casserole for part of the holiday meal.
Always stick with each family member’s comfort zone-let them do what they are already skilled inexample-sisters
Personality types will still remain, just because your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s, Aunt jane will still be a whiner and complainer, Susie will never bother to help, joe will be passive aggressive, mom may overly criticize everything that you do, and your cousin will not bother to make his children behave while visiting your loved one.
To protect yourself, set limits, limit visits and times, set boundaries with people that take advantage or are inappropriate
Have a grandfchild or granfdaughter assist in videotaping your loved one, or handling all of the technical social media to record these holiday memories
Help your loved one sign cards to immediate family
Take pictures and share with other family members
Make them a calender for the upcoming year with pictures of past events so that they can continue to remember
As a caregiver you know your loved one’s abilities best. You also know what’s most likely to agitate or upset him or her. Resist pressure to celebrate the way others might expect you to react. You can’t control the progress of Alzheimer’s or protect your loved one from all distress-but by planning and setting firm boundaries you can avoid needless holiday stress and enjoy the warmth of the season.
Please take handouts provided for you on the stages and examples provided by the Midlands Alzheimer’s association.
Please take the example of the letter to families
Thanks to Janice Livingston at the Hospital for all of her technical assistance and consultations Thanks to Don Bagwell at the Trident Area Agency on Aging for Sharing his Pictures and Statistics Last but not least, Thanks to my mom for teaching me how to humbly deal with the disease and look for the silver linings to the clouds