Christmas shopping with someone with dementia

The festive season can bring a whole range of new challenges to a person with dementia. Christmas shopping is difficult enough but add in noise from the traffic and other shoppers, as well as the general hustle and bustle of the British high street, and it can cause incredible stress and anxiety for someone with the condition.

If you have a loved-one who would like to do their own Christmas shopping this year, it’s important to be organised and, if you are going to help them, have a plan.

We’ve put together some top tips to help make the trip much less stressful for everyone:

Make a list

It’s important to sit down with your loved-one and decide what they would like to buy their nearest and dearest as gifts. This will save you time when you are looking around the shops, as you will know exactly what you need to find.

It can often be difficult for a person with dementia to make decisions, so be patient and try not to overthink things too much. Give them suggestions for gift ideas if they need them.

Avoid busy shopping times

To eliminate potential confusion and frustration, it’s best to go Christmas shopping during the quieter periods. Avoid Fridays and weekends. Instead try shopping mid-week, early in the morning as most people will be at work. Often shops will have special quiet hours for people with additional needs, so do your research beforehand.

Give independence

It’s important to let people with dementia have their own independence, so only step in and help if the person is starting to struggle.

Incorporate the trip into their usual routine

If you take a loved-one with dementia out on a regular basis, you can incorporate the Christmas shopping into your routine. The shops and time of day will be familiar to your loved-one and will therefore limit potential stress or confusion.

Our carers can help service users with their shopping needs as part of their care plan. Click here for more information about our services.