Caring for someone with dementia at Christmas
Christmas is a time for celebrations and seeing friends and family. However, if you’re caring for a person with dementia during the festive period, it can be a challenging time of year for both of you and it’s important to ask for help if you need it.
We’ve put together some of our top tips to help care for someone with dementia at Christmas:
Stagger visitors
If the person you’re caring for finds too many visitors overwhelming, then stagger them throughout the day. It’s important to explain to friends and family members that your loved-one might not understand what’s going on, but they should enjoy the time together regardless.
Schedule rests
Doing too much can mean your loved-one may get tired quickly, so be sure to schedule plenty of rests throughout the day and whole festive period if needed.
Consider the person’s needs
Christmas Day can be a confusing and difficult day for someone with dementia. If they’re visiting someone else’s house for dinner, they may not be used to the noise of Christmas. Music, too many people chatting or a loud television. Be considerate and try to reduce unnecessary noise. You could have a quiet place that they can escape to if needed.
Have a practice run
If you’re taking a loved-one to someone else’s house for the big day, then you could try having a practice run. You’ll then be able to gauge what’s achievable and what isn’t.
Ask friends and family for help
As a carer you need to look after yourself as well as you’re loved-one. Don’t be shy about asking friends and family for help. This is something that should be done all year round, but particularly at Christmas when you may be extra busy.
Caring for someone can add a lot of pressure, especially if you have a household to run, a job to go to and a family to look after. You can find our blog post of our top tips for carers to alleviate stress here.
You could work out a care rota between yourselves. Or ask the person’s nearest and dearest to pop in for an hour for a cuppa and a chat.
If you feel you need additional help, take a look at the services we offer and get in touch for more information.
