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Support & Insight for the Autumn of Life

8 Care Tips to Boost Holiday Joy

DEMENTIA & HOLIDAY PLANNING:

Relatives with a dementia such as Alzheimer’s may be frail or have special emotional, mental and physical health needs. Find out how to give that extra attention to help them enjoy the holiday season.


(HealthDay News)
Experts at the University of California, San Diego, offer the following tips:

  1. If an older family member tires easily or is vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the activities or length of time that person is included in the festivities.
  2. Consider planning a nap time or providing a “quiet room” where an older person can take a break from the noise and confusion.
  3. If there’s a get-together at the home of someone with memory impairment or behavioral problems, don’t rearrange the furniture. This could cause confusion and anxiety.
  4. If the family function is somewhere else, remove slippery throw rugs and other items that could be hazards or barriers to people who have difficulty walking.
  5. Avoid comments that might embarrass someone with short-term memory problems.
  6. Make sure that older people adhere to their regular schedule of medications during the holiday hustle and bustle.
  7. Reach out to older relatives and friends who are alone. Loneliness in older people is associated with major depression and with suicidal thoughts and impulses.
  8. Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, assigning tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members.

Find out more about geriatric care at the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

For more insights into making the holidays a better, more meaningful time, click on the “HOLIDAYS” or “CARE TIPS” links below.

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Unknown
Unknown
November 14, 2013 6:37 am

nbraintraining
– Zengar.com is an Industry Leader in Healthy Brain Workout, Fitness Program, Neurofeedback for ADHD, Brain Exercises, Neurocare, PTSD Disorder and Biofeedback Systems."/>

Anonymous
Anonymous
November 14, 2013 7:09 am

Thanks for writing on this topic. I get great tips to make holiday season full of fun and enjoyable too. #2, #6 and #7 are surely new tips for me. Thanks for sharing this informative resource.

Unknown
Unknown
December 3, 2013 2:59 pm

Thanks for the great tips. Definitely have a few I hadn't thought of and will share with your info! ~Sandy http://free-alzheimers-support.com

Kurt Evans Family
Kurt Evans Family
December 19, 2018 5:16 pm

Great tips!

B. Berger

B. Berger

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Welcome

This site was inspired by my Mom’s autoimmune dementia.

It is a place where we separate out the wheat from the chaffe, the important articles & videos from each week’s river of news. With a new post on Alzheimer’s or dementia appearing on the internet every 7 minutes, the site’s focus on the best information has been a help to many over the past 15 years. Thanks to our many subscribers for your supportive feedback.

The site is dedicated to all those preserving the dignity of the community of people living with dementia.

Peter Berger, Editor

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