The holidays are usually a time for celebrating with family and friends but for people living with dementia – and their carers – they can also be a source of stress.
Dementia Australia has some good tips to support people impacted by this disease:
They say if you have not seen a loved one living with dementia for some time, it’s best to be prepared for the possibility their condition may have changed. Recognising emotional needs – and seeking support – during this period may help to reduce feelings of loss, loneliness and social isolation.
Plan festivities with the person in mind
For those organising the gathering, whether it’s a family get together or a visit to the beach, make sure to consider the needs of the person living with dementia, including:
- pick a suitable location. Be aware of amenities with more than one entry or exit point and public spaces or environments where there are high levels of background noise as people living with dementia can find too much noise overwhelming.
- aim for flexibility – consider the best time to share a celebratory meal, bearing in mind that a change in routine may be confusing for a person with dementia, and include times for rest and quiet times with smaller groups of people.
- involve the person with dementia – assisting with simple event or meal preparation is important in maintaining a sense of wellbeing for the person with dementia. Where needed, modify the task or provide an alternative activity such as folding serviettes.
For more tips, call the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
We also came across some great advice from the US from Mary Catherine Lundquist, the program director of the Rutgers University Behavioural Health Care’s Care2Caregivers, a peer counseling helpline for carers of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
You can read it on our website here.
