Dementia Tips-Holiday Series - How to Adapt for the Holidays

During the holidays, being flexible and adapting family rituals and traditions to meet the needs of a client or loved one with Dementia is important in helping everyone be able to enjoy the festivities. 

• Keep gatherings small instead of having one large gathering. Consider breaking the celebration into multiple small gatherings. 

• Create a new take on old traditions. Holiday family outings, such as outdoor ice-skating, caroling, or seeing “The Nutcracker” at a local playhouse hold fond memories, but may not be feasible in the wake of dementia. Be creative in modifying traditions. 

• Reduce the noise level to avoid overstimulation. 

• Simplify the plan. 

• Schedule gatherings at your loved one's or client's best time of day. Change a dinner celebration to a brunch if earlier in the day is better for the individual. 

• Prepare a quiet room where your loved one or client can go to rest and escape the commotion. 

• Allow a few days of relaxation before and after each gathering or event.