The holiday season holds the promise of joy and connection, but when a loved one has Alzheimer's, it can also bring stress and uncertainty as familiar traditions no longer fit. Instead of striving for the “perfect” celebration, the key to an enjoyable season lies in adapting with compassion and flexibility.
By focusing on creating moments of comfort and simple joy, you can build a new kind of holiday magic that includes everyone. These five thoughtful tips will help you navigate the festivities with less stress and more meaningful connections, ensuring a peaceful and enjoyable season for both you and your loved one.
Here's how to Help Seniors with Dementia Enjoy the Holidays!
Many older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia enjoy and want to be included in holiday festivities.
But this time of year can also be overwhelming. The added activities and stress could cause increased agitation and confusion, unpredictable behavior, or mood swings.
That's why we’ve rounded up our 5 top Alzheimer’s holiday tips articles.
They explain how to modify traditions and set expectations so people with dementia can have a fun and enjoyable season, too.
Find out how to make holiday activities dementia-friendly, help family members know what to say and do, keep seniors feeling calm and secure, and more.
5 Articles with Essential Alzheimer’s Holiday Tips
4 Ways to Help Seniors with Alzheimer's Enjoy the Holidays
Holidays bring a flurry of activity – changes in daily routine, conversations with extended family, and participation in annual traditions.
For seniors with dementia, the stress and changes can trigger challenging behavior.
Get tips on reducing stress, modifying family traditions, and helping older adults feel included. We also explain why decorations need to be chosen with care.
Get 4 ways to help seniors with dementia enjoy the holiday season
6 Ways to Adapt Holiday Activities for Seniors with Dementia
Even though your older adult has dementia, you still want them to feel included in the holiday festivities.
But you don’t want them to get overstimulated or agitated.
Whether you’re hosting the get-together or taking your older adult to a relative’s house, these six tips will help you modify holiday activities so your loved ones can participate comfortably.
Discover how adjustments like keeping groups small, paying attention to timing, and focusing on meaningful traditions can make a significant difference.
Get 6 ways to help seniors with dementia enjoy holiday traditions
How to Prepare the Family Before the Holiday Visit
Because Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are progressive conditions, people get worse over time.
To avoid shocking family or friends during holiday visits, it’s a good idea to update them on your older adult’s current condition before they come over.
Being surprised can make family members irrationally angry, cause them to ignore your older adult, or lead them to insist on making unwise changes to their lives.
One way to give people time to absorb the info ahead of time is by sending an email – we’ve even got a sample letter you can use.
Update family about your older adult’s condition before they visit
Do’s and Don’ts for Visiting Someone with Alzheimer’s
Seniors with dementia can enjoy holiday visitors as long as the visit isn't overwhelming.
Make these visits successful and positive by helping family and friends know what to say and do.
When people are prepared with helpful information and the right expectations, you'll all come out of the visit with good feelings and pleasant memories.
Use these helpful do’s and don’ts to create successful visits with someone with dementia
20 Joyful Holiday Activities for Seniors
Being included in the festivities brings joy and helps seniors with dementia enjoy the season.
Many of these 20 fun holiday activities are dementia-friendly – choose the ones you think they can handle.
To prevent older adults from becoming overtired or overstimulated, it’s important to pace activities and take frequent breaks.
Get 20 senior-friendly holiday activity suggestions
Recommended for you:
- 46 Amazing Gifts for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
- 50 Best Gifts for Seniors: Things You’ve Never Thought Of
- 10 Best Holiday Gifts for Caregivers
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
