10 Ways to Ensure Joy & Peace for your Holidays

Realistic Expectations

• What you believe your loved one is capable of doing and reality.
• What family and friends imagine and reality.
• What your loved one says they want and can handle, and reality.

What is their Cognition level?

• An honest assessment is required on your part.

Energy Levels

• What are their daily activities today?
• Are rest times a part of daily routines?
• How will you implement them into holiday plans?

Changed Environments

• Familiarity is big in the life of someone with a form of dementia.
• Hotels, family homes are foreign territory.
• Planning ahead with door signs, night lights, area rugs and more.
• Bring their favorite mug, blanket.

Share the Story with your World

• Provide written or verbal update on your loved one’s level of awareness and comfort zones—
  • Large crowds bothersome.
  • Noisy settings a discomfort.
  • Subjects to talk about.
• It’s Meet and Greet time—
  • Everyone asked to say their name when they visit.
  • Stand about arm’s length apart for your comfort zone.
  • Relate a special story about time together to prompt a memory.
  • Look them in the eye.
  • Count to 10 between asking questions and anticipating responses so they can process the conversation.
  • There’s still a real person ‘there’; pay attention to feelings.

Public Spaces

• Restroom assistance—Americans with Disability Act applies to your loved one. You may accompany them to the restroom.
• Notify management of your loved one’s condition in case they wander.

Air Travel

• Ask for a wheelchair and re-boarding assistance.
• Security Checks are usually streamlined.
• Inform the on-board flight staff so they can appropriately address needs.

Restaurants

• Restroom assistance—Americans with Disability Act applies to your loved one. You may accompany them to the restroom.
• Notify management of your loved one’s condition in case they wander.
• Show them your card explaining memory issues to gain understanding and support of the wait staff.

Sensory Overload

• Too Much Eye-Candy:
  • Visual bombardment, crowds, and unfamiliar faces often bring about high level of discomfort, anxiety and mood changes.
  • Keep is simple.
  • Minimize tight spaces.
• Load noises, lots of chatter, surround-sound environments can frighten and disturb your loved one.
  • Move away from the crowds.
  • Bring them to a quiet space.
  • Let them enjoy time away from the gathering.

It’s All About Them

• Create a space where they are comfortable and let others come to them.
• Bring the things they will enjoy using/doing.
• iPods and headsets are just fine.
• Let them wear what they are comfortable wearing.
• The children may be their best friends and let this be.