The holidays are a time to enjoy meals and treats with family and friends. But, when you’re taking care of a senior parent with Alzheimer’s, it can be challenging to enjoy the usual holiday traditions.
You can still make the holidays special for your mom or dad, but you may need to change how you celebrate the holidays to accommodate your senior parent.
If you need a break during the holidays, Alzheimer’s care can help. Alzheimer’s care is specialized care provided to seniors that have Alzheimer’s. Caregivers who provide Alzheimer’s care have training and experience working with seniors who have Alzheimer’s. They can keep your mom or dad happy and safe at home so that you can have a break when you need one.
Remember that your mom or dad won’t have fond memories of these holidays. They are living in the moment, so your focus should be on giving them as many good moments as possible. If you are going to be spending holidays with your mom or dad some of the ways that you can make the holidays special for them are:
1. Enjoy Holiday Music Together
Music can bring joy and connect deeply, even for someone with Alzheimer’s. Create a playlist of holiday songs they love or remember and play it in the background or sing along together.
Whether it’s classic Christmas carols or festive tunes from their past, the music can spark happy feelings in the moment. Clap, hum, or tap along, and let the music bring an uplifting spirit to the celebration.
2. Decorate Cookies or a Gingerbread House
Baking and decorating cookies is a hands-on activity that doesn’t require detailed instructions. Provide soft cookies or pre-made gingerbread shapes, along with easy-to-use decorations like sprinkles and icing.
Let your mom or dad help decorate, focusing on enjoying the colors, textures, and flavors. This can be an enjoyable sensory experience that’s relaxing and doesn’t depend on perfection or memory.
3. Go for a Walk to See Holiday Lights
Bundle up and take a stroll to look at holiday lights in the neighborhood. Lights are visually stimulating and can evoke a sense of wonder.
If walking isn’t possible, you could go for a drive to see decorated houses or holiday displays nearby. Many communities have drive through displays of lights or maps of homes with extravagant light displays.
Comment on the colors and patterns and let them respond naturally to what they see. This simple outing is about soaking in the sights and enjoying the atmosphere together.
4. Make a Simple Craft Together
Holiday crafts, like making ornaments or wreaths, can be a fun, tactile activity. Choose a craft that involves easy tasks, like gluing, painting, or arranging small items on a wreath. Use large, easy-to-handle pieces that they can explore with their hands, like soft fabric or ribbons. These types of activities can be calming and give a sense of accomplishment in the moment, even if the results are simple.
And, as a bonus, you will have those ornaments, wreaths, or crafts to keep for the future. When your mom or dad is gone you will appreciate having those items that they made to remind you of holidays you spent with your mom or dad.
5. Decorate The Tree Together
Let your mom or dad help you place ornaments on the lighted tree. They will love seeing the lights and helping you arrange the ornaments on the tree. It’s a good way for your mom or dad to get some extra activity and movement too, because they will be walking around the tree and reaching up or out to place the ornaments.