Holidays with Alzhimers Disease

Alzhimers

The holiday season is an opportunity to spend time with the people you love especially with who have Alzhimers. When someone you care deeply about has Alzhimers disease and you wish to include them in the festivities, it's often best to keep celebrations simple. Concentrate on enjoying the time you spend together. Don't feel that you need to maintain every family tradition or participate in every family event. Here are some suggestions to help you and your loved one with Alzhimers to have a safe and happy season together in spite of the obstacles.

In the midst of putting up decorations, rearranging furniture and putting up Christmas trees, the person with Alzhimers will do better in an environment that is as consistent as possible. Try not to move the furniture more than absolutely necessary, and watch for danger spots, like electrical cords or throw rugs that could cause a fall. Don't have candles burning in places that could easily be brushed up against with clothing. Avoid using blinking lights or decorations that look edible. Use your loved one's best-loved decorations to spark memories and increase their ability to enjoy the festivities. Play familiar Christmas songs, and fix traditional foods that Alzhimers patients will enjoy.
Have young children play in a separate room to keep noise levels down and avoid causing your loved one to feel horror or nervous. Alzhimers patients pick up on the moods of others around them, and the atmosphere needs to feel serene and peaceful for them to enjoy visitors. Have just a few guests at one time, and avoid large crowds of people. Name tags are very helpful and will keep your loved one from feeling frustrated and embarrassed when they can't remember people they should know. Have a quiet room that the Alzhimers patient is accustomed to in case they feel overwhelmed by too much noisy activity. If you notice signs of increased confusion or agitation, assist them to their quiet place to rest for a while.

Christmas stories from years gone by will help draw your loved one in and keep them involved in the celebration. It's much easier for people with Alzhimers Disease to remember things that happened long ago than something that happened yesterday, so recall! Try simple tasks to occupy the time, like frosting cookies, stamping envelopes for cards, or making simple junk. Look at catalogs together and help your special one to order gifts for people they care about. Take time to look at photo albums and talk about happy holiday times together. This could be just what Alzhimers patients need to reconnect and appreciate the holidays, creating more memories that you will hold dear for years to come.

Suggested gifts for Alzhimers Patients:-

1. the early stage of Alzhimers or related dementia include: simple games; tickets to a concert, musical, circus, or ball game; window shopping at a mall; taxi charge account for visits to friends; frozen, homemade meals; photo album or collage highlighting major events of the person’s life; fruit basket or flowers.
2. For the moderately impaired stage, the following gift ideas are suggested: simple to manage clothing; materials to sort; box of costume jewellery; basket of yarn or fabric; music, such as old songs and religious music; taped religious service; and short car trips to see Christmas lights.
3. Suggestions for the severely impaired stage include: recordings of old music; stuffed animals or lifelike baby doll; video tapes of soothing sights and sounds; hand/body lotions and massages; pet visits; memory books, and knee warmers.
As you can see, it need not cost a lot to give an Alzhimers patient a delightful gift. May you enjoy giving to your Alzhimers patient loved one this year, and may he or she find delight in simple gifts filled with love. I wish you all the best holiday season ever!
For reader’s information, there are many things Alzhimers patients can do to take care of themselves:
• Take stock of emotions, health, stamina, resources, time and priorities
• Make a list of "want to do" versus "can do"
• Make health a top priority (eat right, sleep well and laugh much)
• Seek help with holiday errands
• Shop with other people and limit shopping time
• Take time for naps, massages and quiet time (even just for a few minutes)
• Be careful with sharp objects like scissors and knives (patients who bleed easily)
• Avoid negative thoughts about what doesn't get done
• Let go of being a perfectionist
• Think of the holiday season as a joyful time
• Spend time with people who are loving and positive
• Exercise lightly
• Take it easy (pace themselves)

P/S: Sorry for interruption..look this video about Alzhimers Patients!



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Alzhimers