Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather, often over a delicious meal and tasty treats.
For those living with dementia, Holiday events can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. We don’t want to exclude our loved ones – but all the unfamiliar faces, noise and changes in routine can often lead to anxiety, fear and sometimes even agitation.
What are some things you can do to mitigate these issues and still include your loved one in these important moments? Here are some of our favourite strategies:
Know your boundaries!
- If you have noticed your loved one is easily upset by new faces, it is probably best not to attempt a large gathering. Things like loud music, conversations or even laughter can be hard to process for some individuals living with dementia.
- Instead, have family and friends plan to visit at different times and even on different days.
Those experiencing cognitive issues can be unsettled by what they view as a stranger in their space. These smaller gatherings can help you and your loved one enjoy these moments together without all the stress of a more boisterous environment.
Set expectations for your guests:
- Ensure that your guests know that loud shouting or sounds could be alarming to your loved one.
- If conversation is challenging for your loved one, explain that keeping questions to simple yes and no answers can really help.
- Plan to keep visits relatively short, or set aside a space in the house to take your loved one away from the main gathering if you feel they may be easily overwhelmed.
- Explain any recent changes or behavioural issues to guests in advance so it is not a surprise.
- Individuals with cognitive challenges may eat with their hands at times, forget the names or faces of people they were once very close to, or even make an inappropriate comment out of turn.
Setting expectations with dinner guests can help keep things calmer and more predictable for everyone involved. While you may be very used to a particular behaviour, not everyone has experience with the unique situations that arise when caring for someone with dementia.
Routine, routine, routine
- Keep your daily routines as normal as possible surrounding the gatherings. Structure is so comforting to someone with memory loss or processing issues.
- Daily routines help maintain a sense of security for those struggling with memory and cognitive changes.
While you may certainly take all of the above points into consideration, it can also be a great idea to use this time to do some fun activities with your loved one. Make a batch of cookies, let them help wash vegetables or fruits – think of little things that suit their current capabilities and interests.
We hope some of these tips are useful to you and your family. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at BethCare Senior Services!
For more information about BethCare and its services, please refer to our website.
