Dear Social Worker,
My mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She is currently living at home with her husband, my father. We have a very large family with lots of young children.
Everyone wants to spend time together over the holidays, however I’m concerned about how my mom will handle all the extra activity. Do you have any suggestions on how to handle the holidays in a way that is manageable for the entire family?
-Festive but frazzled
Leah Oslund, MSW, says:
Great question! The holidays can be a very stressful and chaotic time for everyone and especially for someone living with dementia. There are many ways for your family to manage the holidays in a way that will not cause extra stress or anxiety for your mother.
The first thing to consider is to try to honor your mom’s typical daily routine as closely as possible. Have her get up and go to bed at her usual time and keep her mealtimes the same as they would be on a typical day.
If possible, have people try to visit her in her home where she is most comfortable rather than have her travel to a place she is not familiar with. If possible, try to schedule more than one get together to avoid her being overstimulated by too many visitors at one time.
There are many activities you can plan that would involve your mother and other members of the family. Some ideas include baking simple cookie recipes, listening to familiar holiday songs, or looking through old photos.
Lastly, have a quiet space prepared ahead of time that your mom can go to if she starts to feel overwhelmed. For more ideas, visit The Holidays and Alzheimer’s | alz.org.
You can also reach out to one of our Licensed Social Workers here at Senior Community Services at 612-770-7005 if you have any additional questions or would like to meet with us in person or virtually. Most important, make plans that ensure that you enjoy the holiday season as well!
Sincerely,
Leah Oslund, MSW
Senior Outreach & Caregiver Services Social Worker
