Christmas with dementia patients
As every year, Christmas, the traditional celebration of love and family, is approaching. We look forward to some peaceful, relaxed days. But far from it. In order to enjoy harmony and peace, at least during the festive season, we become even more stressed and hectic in the run-up to Christmas.
When the burden of caring for relatives with dementia is added to this, many carers reach their limits. And this year, the additional challenge is to comply with all hygiene measures during the coronavirus pandemic so as not to risk any danger under the Christmas tree.
All in all, a doubly stressful time. Read on to find out how you can support your sick loved ones during Christmas and celebrate as harmoniously as possible with your family:
Involve Spitex and neighbors
Professionals, family members or neighbors can help with the preparations. They can do the shopping or be there for the patient while you are out and about. Seek advice in good time from care advice centres and Spitex providers who specialize in dementia.
Care services in particular are very responsible when it comes to observing hygiene measures. Wearing a face mask is a matter of course and social distancing rules must also be observed as far as possible.
Dementia patients can be reached very well on an emotional level. And the Christmas period is ideal for this. Talk to your relatives about their memories of past Christmas celebrations. You will often be told stories that contain many details about so-called old times. Baking simple recipes can also be fun and bring back memories. Prepare all family members for celebrating with the sick relative.
Preparing the sick person
It is much easier for those affected to get involved in Christmas Eve if they are prepared for it a little. You can use short, clear sentences to talk about how you imagine the evening together. The sentences can be illustrated by showing objects.
Peace and quiet for the festivities
It is particularly important for people suffering from dementia to have a quiet celebration. In tense situations, they quickly become restless and may start to wander around or become aggressive. Maybe the sick grandma simply starts to decorate the tree. Peace and quiet, no sensory overload and a cozy atmosphere help to make Christmas Eve a success. With fewer program items and less volume, the sick person will not feel overwhelmed so quickly.
Effect of sensory stimuli
Familiar Christmas carols, the smell of cookies and roasting or candlelight can evoke emotions and bring back memories, so that images of past festivities can appear before the eyes of the person with dementia, even if the dementia is already well advanced.
Ups and downs of emotions
A decorated Christmas tree, candlelight and Christmas carols can of course also bring tears to the eyes. People with dementia often long to return to a time when everything was familiar and clear. Relatives should respect these feelings and be there to comfort them. But negative feelings can also be evoked. You need a great deal of empathy and patience to spend Christmas Eve with someone suffering from dementia. Try to distract your ill relative at particularly emotional moments by focusing their attention on other things, e.g. a certain song or something delicious to eat.
We wish you a happy festive season and a good start to a healthy new year!
