Ace Alzheimer Center provides 8 tips and recommendations for family members and caregivers to take into account ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Christmas and Dementia
December arrives, and with it, we prepare our homes for Christmas. These dates are characterized by a series of changes in our habits and customs that can create difficult situations for people with dementia and their caregivers.
We have drawn up a series of tips to bear in mind for this time of year and we will give some recommendations so that people with cognitive impairment, their relatives and carers can enjoy the festive season:
1. Creating a familiar environment: It’s fundamental to adapt the environment of the celebrations to the needs of people with Alzheimer's. It is important, as far as possible, to hold the celebrations in a place recognized by the person. If they are held in an unfamiliar place, we must ensure that they always feel relaxed and avoid stressful topics of conversation.
2. Integration and participation: It’s important to involve them in the celebrations. Spending time with them during the day, doing simple activities like reading or painting, or simply having a conversation is fundamental to make them feel loved, respected, and part of the family. Our time and company are the most important gift we can give them during these dates.
3. Care for the caregiver: The caregiver deserves a break to be able to enjoy the holidays, so they must be helped and allow themselves to be helped. It is important to organize the celebrations so that the whole burden of care does not fall on one person. Allowing them to rest and enjoy these days is crucial for their well-being and that of their dependents.
4. Monitor meals: Often, people with Alzheimer's don't detect the sensation of fullness and continue eating, which can cause discomfort later. Also, it is essential to monitor the interaction between drink and medication, as some drugs can enhance the effects of alcohol. Creating a relaxed environment during meals is essential. Avoiding distractions and preserving regular mealtimes will help facilitate orientation and provide security to people with dementia.
Preparing dishes in small, finely chopped portions to facilitate chewing and having a proper presentation of the food can stimulate appetite and prevent the person from retaining food in their mouth.
5. Maintain routine: It is important that people with cognitive impairment maintain their usual physical and cognitive activity and keep regularity in basic feeding and hygiene routines. Reading, playing, walking, painting, or dancing together and maintaining the same medication and rest schedules are some examples that help keep the mind and body active.
6. Reduce stimuli: Excess stimuli can cause anxiety in people with dementia, so we must be always attentive to their needs. If they want to leave or show bad mood, it is important to physically separate them and do some relaxed activity. It is also advisable to intersperse rest periods between lunch and dinner on holidays.
7. Take care of socialization: It is normal for people with dementia not to recognize certain individuals they do not see as often. We should avoid making this symptom evident and not insist that they know that person.
8. Health Precautions: Although COVID-19 may be less present in our lives, maintaining proper hygiene measures is still important to avoid possible contagion of this or other seasonal viruses and take care of everyone's health.
From Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, we wish you happy holidays and a happy new year.
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Ace
