Ten Top Tips to Support a Loved One Living with Dementia at Christmas.

Christmas is a time of celebration and traditions, all of which are unique to every family. Whether your Christmas is focused on family, friends, festivities or food, for people affected by dementia it can be a challenging time.

At Boutique Care Homes, we understand that the festive season can be a difficult time, so here are our 10 Top Tips to support a loved one living with dementia at Christmas.

 

1. Keep plenty of nutritious meals & snacks available around the home throughout the day.
2. Place plenty of drinks in different rooms to prompt fluid intake.
3. If home care support is needed, make sure you have the Christmas period covered.
4. Put lights/ lamps on a timer so these automatically come on during dark afternoons.
5. Christmas parties are fun but be mindful that large gatherings can be distressing.
6. Loud parties can create sensory overload so ensure there is a quiet area at gatherings.
7. Be aware that increased confusion may occur when out of day-to-day routine.
8. Reminisce on fond memories of Christmases past with favourite songs and photo albums.
9. Ensure you have enough medication to get you through the Christmas period.
10. Make neighbours aware if your loved one is alone over the Christmas period.

 

As dementia progresses, people will rely more on others to do things for them and this is no different during the festive period. It’s important that they feel reassured and supported, while still maintaining some level of independence.

It’s important to make sure dementia doesn’t deprive them of their hobbies and interests. Christmas is the perfect time to try baking festive treats together, going for a walk to see the Christmas lights or decorating a tree together. People with dementia may also need some help when it comes to making sure they’re eating a healthy, balanced diet over Christmas, as poor nutrition can lead to other illnesses.

If you’re supporting someone with dementia it can feel difficult at times and this can be especially so at Christmas, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Talking to family and friends can help or if you’re feeling like you need a little more support, speak to a member of your local dementia support group, who can provide friendly advice and guidance on making the situation easier to deal with. You could also visit  your doctor who will be able to refer you to a counsellor.

Although dementia is widely misunderstood and is currently an incurable illness, much can be done to maximise the quality of life for people living with this debilitating condition.

A person living with dementia or an associated condition will experience increasingly frequent memory loss relating to recent events.  Feelings, however, remain intact, as do memories of past events and these recollections and emotions can be used to assist communication and engagement.

At Boutique Care Homes, our ‘Nostalgia Community’ is our dedicated dementia residence, where your loved one will be safe and well cared for by our specialist dementia trained team in an environment dedicated to suit their specific needs. If you would like to learn more about dementia and how you can support a loved one please visit: 

https://www.boutiquecarehomes.co.uk/dementia-care