Caregiver Support: Help at the holidays
Holiday time can be a happy but chaotic time for families and caregivers dealing with dementia. To assist in maintaining a more tranquil and safer environment, here are some essentials for the holidays.
Often, we have more family gatherings, and informing family and friends that a person has dementia and setting new guidelines like limiting the number of people visiting and times may be helpful. A person with dementia may be overstimulated, disoriented and confused with too many people and too much noise. Allowing proper rest or downtime between activities or gatherings is helpful. Keeping the daily routine as much as possible is beneficial. Simplify holiday activities and scale down decorating. Allow observation of activities to keep the person you care for engaged if they cannot participate fully.
Home safety during this time is a concern with such disruption. Your loved one may become disoriented or confused with sundowners. Having it darker earlier causes some persons with dementia to develop confusion when it is late afternoon or when it becomes cloudy. Keeping the house lit up more brightly may help. Use night lights throughout the home. Use distraction and listen to their concerns even if you do not understand them. Do not try to correct them. You cannot correct dementia, but you can state, "I did not know that bothered you or that there was a problem," in acknowledging their concern. Reassure them you will take care of it and make sure it does not happen again.
Secure the home if they were to wander out during the night or even during the day. You can use baby doorknob covers to reduce access in opening the door. Door alarms can be installed or bells on the doorknob. Do not lock them in or leave them alone in the home. Install dowels into the slider door track for safety. You can use baby monitors or baby cameras in the home as well as check with security system options available for your home. Take a recent photo of the person you care for and get an ID bracelet for identification. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association helpline 24/7, 800-272-3900 for the Wandering Scholarship for Medic Alert bracelet. You need to contact them first to start the application.
For more information, contact the Friendship Centers of Emmet County at (231) 347-3211. Have a safe and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Suzanne Holguin, RN, BSN, is assessment nurse and caregiver support group facilitator at the Friendship Centers of Emmet County.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Caregiver Support: Help at the holidays
