December holidays are filled with cherished memories of family,
food, friends, fun, presents and parties. Typically, the holiday
season also is filled with stress.
Jodie McCann, senior services coordinator at Metro District,
says those stresses added to adults with dementia can cause
problems.
“The holidays can often be hard on caregivers, who are not only
taking care of their loved one, but are also trying to maintain
their traditional family gatherings,” McCann said. “For caregivers
who support and care for individuals with Alzheimer’s, as well as
those with dementia and other forms of memory loss, the holidays
can often seem overwhelming.”
The Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado suggests the following
to help make the holidays more enjoyable for both caregivers and
their loved ones:
Consider multiple small holiday meals with fewer people.
Ask adult children to buddy up with the person living with
memory loss. As a team, they can help monitor anxiety,
overstimulation, fatigue and even wandering.
Bring a special dinner to the assisted living or memory care
community instead of taking the person with memory loss out to a
crowded restaurant or even to your private home, which could be
unfamiliar.
Don’t forget yourself in the bustle. Caregivers need a break,
especially in busy seasons.
“The physical, emotional and financial demands of caregiving,
anytime of the year, can easily compromise the health of the care
provider,” McCann said. “Caregivers need to protect their own
health and well being, by taking time for themselves and recharging
their own batteries, to ensure that they can continue to care.
‘Respite care’ offers short-term relief and a well- deserved break
from the often exhausting challenges of caregiving.”
For more information, and suggestions on gifts for both
caregivers and those with Alzheimer’s disease, please visit
www.highlandsranch. org and click on Senior Outreach Services under
the Newsflash section.
For more information about Highlands Ranch senior services,
contact McCann at 720-240-4922, or at jmccann@highlandsranch.
org.
For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit
www.alz.org, or contact the help
line at 800-272-3900.
