Alzheimer's and the holidays: Tips from the Alzheimer's Assn.

Even at the best of times, holiday celebrations can bring stress as well as pleasure. When a member of the family has Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia, such gatherings present extra challenges and need more careful planning. The Alzheimer's Assn. California Southland Chapter has a booklet at its website that should help anyone coping with this -- you can access the booklet in full right here. (Or in Spanish, here.)

Among the many tips are practical ways that family, friends and the individual with Alzheimer's can all get more out of a celebration. Such as, by helping friends and family understand, in a letter, what to expect in the demeanor and condition of your loved one and letting them know what gifts would be useful and which would not work. (The booklet notes that friends and family may not know what to expect or how to act and may be nervous about all that. They'd probably welcome some guidance.)

Tips also include ways to orient the person with memory loss to the season that's at hand -- decorations, etc. -- and ways to provide seasonal activities that he or she can take part in with pleasure. Among these are soothing, "quiet time" activities, such as shelling peas or folding napkins or simply taking a walk. And the booklet reminds you it might be practical to plan celebrations earlier in the day rather than later, to avoid the extra confusion that comes very often in the evenings to people with Alzheimer's. (It's called Sundowner Syndrome.)

"Make sure your family understands your needs and wishes," the booklet advises. "Give yourself permission to do only what you can reasonably manage."

You can read many more tips by accessing the booklet. And you can read more on Alzheimer's and memory loss in a Nov. 17 package of stories by Times staff writer Melissa Healy.

-- Rosie Mestel

Comments

[Laura Bramly]

Gifts for people who have moderate to advanced Alzheimer's can be even more difficult to come up with than for the rest of the family! Consider buying puzzles with large pieces or wooden puzzles, flash cards, a new instrument (such as a children's "piano" or books that make sound when you press buttons).

My book, ElderCareRead Life Scenes 1 is a colourful paperback book to enjoy with a person with moderate to advanced dementia. It contains pictures, text and discussion questions that can keep the caregiver and the reader busy for hours. It makes an excellent holiday gift!

Laura

[Jill C.]

These are some great tips and suggestions, thank you for touching on such a great topic that is not readily addressed. Other great gift ideas would be custom gifts such as DVD slideshows of personal images or like the above poster mentioned flash cards-but maybe personalized with pictures that are meaningful to the affected family member.

I would also like to encourage caregivers to visit http://www.caring.com and visit the forums to reach out to other people for additional ideas for holiday tips and suggestions.

Jill C.
http://www.caring.com