Here are ten tips on how to support relatives with dementia this Christmas, from Mazie Mears-Owen, the head of Care UK.
1. Making the Christmas cakes, puddings and mince pies is a great way of getting young and old involved – whether that is stirring, putting in the sixpence or sharing their recipes. Decorating the cake is a safe and creative way for everyone to take part.
2. What could be better than getting everyone together and having fun over the arts and crafts table? Christmas cards and table centres are practical and easy to make. It takes little dexterity and is a perfect way to engage an older person in the Christmas preparations.
3. Singing and music are particularly good at this time of year. Language skills can be affected as dementia progresses and often people who have communication difficulties can sing along to seasonal music or tap out the beat.
4. Decorating the tree is another good way to spend family time. For many families, there are decorations that have special meanings and can bring back lots of memories. Retro baubles are very big this year – you may like to buy some that remind you of ones your family has had in the past.
5. Make a list of useful telephone numbers including out of hours medical services, book repeat prescriptions or appointments and make sure your relative has packed medication or medical support aids if they are going to be away.
6. The run-up to Christmas can be stressful for carers, particularly if they have their own family to look after. Carers should try to make time for themselves and not feel guilty or strive for perfection. Care UK has a number of day and wellbeing centres offering daytime respite services and providing expert care and support for people living with dementia on a daily or hourly basis. The www.careuk.com website enables you to search for care homes by postcode.
7. On Christmas morning, decades of seasonal memories can reawaken if you stick to your traditional Christmas. Go to church, if that is what your family do, open stockings – just enjoy the moment. Have a quiet place ready for your loved one to go, as the hurly-burly of present opening, noisy toys and over-excited youngsters can prove too much for someone whose senses have changed.
8. Try to keep table settings as simple as possible to limit confusion. Sometimes a person with dementia can misinterpret decorations as food. Mealtimes may need to be flexible if a nap is needed. If special cutlery is required, ensure you have it to hand.
9. Dish up lunch for the person as the impairments to eyesight that dementia brings may make it hard to negotiate the serving dishes. Also try to use a plate colour that contrasts against the food. This makes it easier to see and avoids confusion and anxiety. Do not be offended if they do not eat a great deal – appetites can decline with age.
10. In the early stages of dementia, people can still follow the rules of card and board games they have played before, so it could be time to get out some of the old family favourites. If their dementia is more advanced, new games are best avoided. Take a look at As Easy As ABC before Christmas for some dementia friendly ideas downloadable from Care UK along with our communication guide Listen, Talk, Connect.
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