By the time we hit 65, 1 out of 6 of us will be suffering from some form of dementia (severe memory impairment). By the time we reach 85, the odds are almost 50%. The most prevalent form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. For those families dealing with this, the holidays can be a particularly stressful time of the year.
The Alzheimer’s Association has some useful tips for dealing with this disease during the holidays. Two of the links are:
http://www.alz.org/in_my_community_Holiday_Help.asp
http://www.alz.org/documents/colorado/Holiday_Guide_for_Alzheimers_Caregivers(2).pdf
Here’s a brief sampling:
- Don’t feel compelled to hang onto established family traditions if they are no longer practical.
- Be willing to substitute or start a new activity that may become a tradition.
- Familiarize friends and family with changes in behavior and appearance that they may notice in your loved one. Give them tips for communicating and how to watch for increased anxiety or situations that might cause frustration and methods for helping calmyour loved one down (the above links include a sample message you could send to relatives that might potentially visit with you over the holidays to help prepare them and minimize disruption to your loved one’s routine).
- Invite children to visit only briefly or hold events that are adults only
- Consider multiple small holiday meals with fewer people
- Make nametags for everyone attending
- Celebrate early in the day to reduce the likelihood of “Sundowner Syndrome” (evening confusion)
- Keep the lights on to keep the room bright and the television off
The Caregiver Corner is coordinated by Arthur Moseley. Arthur and his wife Frieda are the owners of the Tampa and Pasco Offices of Griswold Home Care, one of the area’s leading referrers of non-medical private pay home care services (the caregivers they refer provide companionship, homemaking services, and personal care).
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