PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Holiday of Comfort & Joy for Families Faced with Alzheimer's
Home Sweet Home Care Inc. offers helpful advice for making the holidays
a relaxing and joyful time for patients, caregivers, family, and friends.
Smithfield, VA – The Alzheimer's Association estimates that there are nearly 5.2 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer's disease. For these millions of people and their families, friends, and caregivers, the holidays can be an especially stressful time. While special events, large gatherings, and a break in routine are typically enjoyed this time of year, these happenings can be very unsettling for people affected by Alzheimer's disease, and Home Sweet Home Care has developed several helpful tips for making sure the holidays are filled with comfort and joy for everyone.
Home Sweet Home Care recommends keeping holiday décor simple. Large decorations and a lot of blinking lights can be distracting and upsetting for someone with Alzheimer's. This is an important tip to remember when dressing the dinner table as well. Using solid tablecloths and dinnerware and limiting the number of glasses and utensils at place settings helps create an environment that is less distracting and confusing.
Limiting the number of guests at holiday gatherings is also helpful. More people usually means more noise, which is often unsettling to a person with Alzheimer's. So keep guest lists to a minimum, and ask those who are in attendance to wear nametags and introduce themselves at each greeting.
Engaging loved ones with Alzheimer's in quiet activities such as setting the dinner table or helping with gift wrapping is also a great way to ease anxiety while spending enjoyable time together. "It helps to validate one’s sense of self when you engage your loved one in easy holiday preparations," says Shirley McGee, founder of Home Sweet Home Care Inc. and Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). "Everyone likes to feel useful, and part of the occasion."
Although some break in routine is virtually unavoidable during the holidays, maintaining as much normalcy as possible, regardless of where the holidays are spent, is critical for loved ones with Alzheimer's. "Holidays can come with many disruptions, which can increase anxiety in someone with Alzheimer’s disease, so it's important to stick to your day-to-day routine," says McGee. "Getting up, eating meals, and going to bed at the same time will go a long way in keeping your day as stress-free as possible."
Most importantly, Home Sweet Home Care reminds caregivers, friends, and family members to support and rely on each other when it comes to meeting the needs of their loved one. "Have holiday guests take turns sitting with your loved one or being responsible for the evening. It will free you up to socialize and relax. If family and friends are not available, consider hiring a caregiver or getting a volunteer from your local Area Agency on Aging," McGee suggests. "No matter what, enjoy your holiday season with your loved one. He or she might not know all your guests or understand completely what all the fuss is about, but they will feel the love and connection of the season.
