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Tips to celebrate Christmas with a person with Alzheimer’s

Christmas is just around the corner and with it the traditional holidays and family gatherings. Despite the magic and joy that characterize these special dates, they can have a bittersweet taste and generate situations that are difficult to manage for people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

From Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona we want to provide family members and caregivers with some advices to celebrate these holidays with people suffering from a dementia:

1. The best gift is your time. Do not leave the person with dementia alone and involve them in the celebrations. They should feel accompanied at all times.
2. Respect their time and routines. It is common to change habits and routines during Christmas, but these alterations can directly affect people with Alzheimer's disease. It is important to maintain their daily routine and activities, as well as to make sure to keep the same schedules in terms of medication and rest.
3. Who takes care of the caregiver? Christmas is a time for sharing and helping. The primary caregiver also deserves to rest and enjoy the holidays, so it is important to make sure that not all the burden falls on that person.
4. Maintain precautionary measures. Even though Covid is no longer as prevalent, it is important to continue to maintain proper hygiene measures, such as washing hands and ventilating rooms, to prevent the spread of this and other viruses.
5. Be careful with food and drink. People with dementia often do not detect the feeling of fullness. It is important to pay attention to food and drink on holidays to prevent them from continuing to eat despite being full, causing discomfort later.
6. Maintain physical and cognitive activity. Reading, playing, walking, singing, painting, dancing... are some activities you can do together to keep the body and mind active. Enjoy creating new memories!

From Ace, we wish you happy holidays and a hopeful new year.