The holidays can be one of the best times of the year for many families — but for some, it means caring for family members who have Alzheimer's or dementia and may get overwhelmed or anxious.
Sarah Lovegreen of the Alzheimer's Association told KMOX how people can help ease the anxieties of loved ones who may be dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia and make sure they have a comfortable and enjoyable holiday. She said that especially if you haven't been living with your family member with dementia, you may be in for some changes in their condition.
"A large gathering, we'd recommend that there's a quiet spot, so if the person living with dementia gets overwhelmed really easily, — loud, large gatherings have a lot of stimulation that can be really overwhelming," Lovegreen said. "And so having a side room where that individual can sit and rest and maybe interact with people one on one, and really kind of making sure there's that steady flow of individuals going in to say, 'Hey, Uncle, how are you doing today?'"
She said it's best to talk to them about things in the present and things they can currently observe, rather than talking about past things that would require them to recall old information.
She also said that before the family gathering happens, families should communicate about the relative's condition and needs.
"We would advise primary caregivers to say, 'Hey, could we have a quick family meeting? Aunt's had a lot of decline recently, and we just want to let you know what to expect,'" Lovegreen said. "Depending on where somebody is in the stage, have name tags — it's not out of the question to have name tags, especially for family members that aren't seen very often."
She said nametags are especially helpful when younger family members wear them since they can change a lot over shorter periods of time, which can be hard for someone with dementia to recognize.
Another option, she said, would be to have smaller gatherings over a couple of days, rather than having one big gathering.
Hear more tips from Sarah Lovegreen on how to help loved ones with dementia feel comfortable during the holidays:
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