Holiday Activities Essay

The holiday season is almost here and it’s the time for family gatherings again where cheers, laughter, and sometimes drama fill every participant’s memories. For families coping with Alzheimer’s though, the holiday season can be very challenging, stressful, and frustrating. Celebrating the holidays with Alzheimer’s can give any caregiver stress and a whole lot more. Holidays for the elderly with dementia or Alzheimer’s can get very agitating and confusing, which could lead to them being over stimulated. When that happens, caregivers could become anxious and lonely, which could result in more stress and even depression. Here are 7 tips on how you can make the holidays and Alzheimer’s become more coexistent.

Holidays and Alzheimer’s Tips #1:

Ask them if they like taking walks in the park, putting icing on cupcakes, doing household chores, telling stories, making a family tree or a scrapbook filled with memories, or keeping a diary. Place the scrapbooks, photo albums, or magazines on accessible areas like the center table of the living room. You can also play upbeat music to encourage dancing and other types of exercise. Tell the visitors in advance if they can join in simple activities with your loved

Because things could become confusing and frustrating for them their judgment could undergo some changes. They may even wander about. To minimize the risk of injury or to avoid any confusion, assign someone who can become your loved one’s buddy. Set aside enough clear space for side-by-side walking, walkers, and wheelchairs. Determine where your loved one would be best seated to facilitate conversation. Avoid serving alcohol. Consider changes in your loved one’s vision. Put contrasting colors for the rugs in front of steps or doors, and don’t choose dark-colored rugs that could look like