Christmas tips for people caring for loved ones with dementia

Christmas tips for people caring for loved ones with dementia

Maizie Mears-Owen, head of dementia, Care UK

Maizie Mears-Owen, head of dementia, Care UK

Everyone wants Christmas to be magical but all too often it can become stressful as family members’ different needs and expectations collide. Maizie Mears-Owen, Care UK’s head of dementia services, offers advice on how to survive Christmas and support relatives with dementia.

  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, maybe using decorations that have been in the family, are 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 weeks in advance on those rainy Saturday afternoons. This year there are lots of cheerful and inexpensive paper chain packs on the high street. 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 along to the beat. Music is a good way to communicate and connect with someone as well as being fun, so try a carol concert or just sing along with Bing Crosby on a CD.
  4. Decorating the tree is another good way to spend family time. For many families there are special decorations that have special meanings and can bring back lots of memories. Make an occasion of it with carols and, if medication allows, a glass of mulled wine. 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 Christmas memories can re-awaken 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 living with dementia can see decorations and misinterpret them 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 and 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. It is not your cooking – 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 www.careuk.com along with our communication guide Listen, Talk, Connect.

 

Care UK’s Christmas tips for people caring for loved ones with dementia

 

Everyone wants Christmas to be magical but all too often it can become stressful as family members’ different needs and expectations collide. Maizie Mears-Owen, Care UK’s head of dementia services, offers advice on how to survive Christmas and support relatives with dementia.

 

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, maybe using decorations that have been in the family, are 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 weeks in advance on those rainy Saturday afternoons. This year there are lots of cheerful and inexpensive paper chain packs on the high street. 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 along to the beat. Music is a good way to communicate and connect with someone as well as being fun, so try a carol concert or just sing along with Bing Crosby on a CD.”

 

4.    Decorating the tree is another good way to spend family time. For many families there are special decorations that have special meanings and can bring back lots of memories. Make an occasion of it with carols and, if medication allows, a glass of mulled wine. 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 Christmas memories can re-awaken 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 living with dementia can see decorations and misinterpret them 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 and 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. It is not your cooking – 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 www.careuk.com along with our communication guide Listen, Talk, Connect.