Dementia - Navigating the Holidays with a Loved One

Our Colorado Springs assisted living and memory care community is proud to premiere a new monthly support group for family members and loved ones of assisted living and memory care residents. Join us every third Thursday of the month for an educational support group focusing on engaging learning and creating an open environment for discussion.
 
Through these monthly support group sessions, we hope to bring awareness to an abundance of topics pertaining to assisted living and memory care that will aide those in attendance with the tools, feedback, and resources they need to create a better understanding of what a senior loved one may be going through. Understanding the ups and downs of senior care, as well as what you can do to help both yourself and your loved one, is vital to creating a healthy environment for both of you. 

As the holiday season is upon us, we hope to spread awareness and provide assistance to those who are spending the holidays with loved ones living with dementia. Navigating the holidays with a loved one that is experiencing memory loss can be difficult, especially during a season where many of us are prioritizing spending time with family and engaging in traditions that could be potentially stressful on them. 

Safety first

​Swap out any candles you may be using for battery powered candles. Avoid any decorations that may be fragile or put them out of reach. Try to avoid any decor that may look edible such as fake fruit or candies. 

Create a safe environment

Play traditional holiday music but keep the volume low. Minimize flashy decorations such as blinking lights or large displays. Try to celebrate in the most familiar setting to your loved one, whether at their care facility or in their home. If celebrating at home, don’t do any decorating that involves rearranging furniture. 

Getting together

​Keep gatherings small to avoid overwhelming your loved one. When planning activities, focus on smaller tasks such as decorating cookies together or opening holiday cards. Prioritize the most meaningful activities for your loved one and family, such as watching a favorite movie or reading a holiday story together. Be sure to have a safe and quiet place where your loved one can take a break from the festivities, as needed.

Take care of yourself

​If you are the primary caregiver, ask another family member if they would be willing to step in for a day so you can take some personal time to yourself or at least to not have to carry all of the planning alone. Provide clear expectations of what you are able to do for holiday gatherings and don’t overload yourself. 

​We’ll be discussing tips like these and more during our first support group held at Melody Living assisted living and memory care community in Colorado Springs.
 
Support groups will be held in-person and attendance is also available via Zoom. Join us for an in-depth discussion on how to best navigate the holidays with a loved one who has dementia.
 
RSVP by emailing carrie.richards@melodyliving.com by November 15th for our support group session on November 17th at 3:00 pm. Give us a call at 719.960.4005 to learn more or visit our contact page to schedule a tour today.