Dementia Tips-Holiday Series - Activities for Hannukah and Christmas

When planning Holiday activities for a person living with Dementia it is important to maintain or adapt to family rituals and traditions. Find out what your client and/or loved one liked to do in the past. Knowing their traditions can help. Think about what your client or loved one can do. Do they like to cook? Do they like to decorate? Do they like to wrap presents? 

Activities to do over the Hannukah and Christmas holidays: 

• Make simple crafts 

• Make or decorate a wreath 

• Decorate ornaments 

• Decorate a dreidel  

• Bake and decorate cookies 

• Wrap holiday gifts and/or stuff stockings  

• Reminisce -- look at old albums, movies, and videos 

• Decorate the house  

• Make pomanders (clove studded oranges); the scent may be calming 

• String popcorn or berries for garland or make paper chains 

• Drive around the neighborhood and look at decorations and lights 

• Listen to holiday music 

• Watch old holiday movies and/or specials 

• Create a movie night with snacks 

• Go out for a walk in a part of town that is decorated for the holiday  

• Sign holiday cards 

Remember it is not so much the activity but the time and traditions you bring to your loved one or client. Enjoy your holiday!