Alzheimer’s Association offers tips for reducing holiday stress for dementia caregivers

BUFFALO, N.Y. The holiday season can be a stressful time for many, but for nearly 12 million family members and friends serving as unpaid caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, the holidays can be especially challenging.

In fact, in New York State, nearly 20 percent of caregivers report feel ing depressed and more than 60 percent have a chronic health condi tion, according to the Alzheimer’s Associations 2025 Facts and Figures report. Add in the holidays and caregivers may feel overwhelmed by maintaining traditions while also providing care.

The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers the following tips on how families affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias can safely enjoy time with family and friends during the holidays.

Adjust expectations. Call a face-to-face meeting or arrange for a group discussion via telephone, video chat or email for family and friends to discuss holi day celebrations. Make sure that everyone understands the situation and has realistic expectations about what you can and cannot do. No one should expect you to maintain every holiday tradition or event.

Plan ahead. When attending a holiday party, prepare the host for special needs, such as a qui et room for the person to rest when they get tired, away from the noise and distractions.

Make sure others know. The holidays are full of emotions, so let guests know what to expect before they arrive and suggest which activities they can do with the person living with Alzheimer’s and how best to communicate with them. “Cross talk” or simultaneous conversations can be challenging for people living with Alzheimer’s – try engaging them one-on-one.

Build on traditions and memories. Take time to experiment with new traditions that might be less stressful or a better fit with your caregiving responsibilities, such as watching seasonal movies. For example, if evening confusion and agitation are a problem, turn your holiday dinner into a holiday lunch.

Involve the person with dementia. Involve the person in safe, man ageable holiday preparation activities that he or she enjoys. Ask him or her to help you prepare food, wrap packages, help decorate or set the table. (Avoid using can dies, artificial fruits and vegetables as decorations because a person with dementia might confuse them with real food. Blinking lights may also confuse the person.)

Let others contribute. Give yourself permis sion to do only what you can reasonably manage. Have a potluck dinner or ask others to host at their home. You also may want to consider breaking large gatherings into smaller visits of two or three people at a time to keep the person with Alzheimer’s and yourself from getting overtired.