Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather, give thanks, catch up and share a special meal.
However, when someone in the family is diagnosed with dementia, the dynamic changes drastically. Nowhere is this more evident than at holiday gatherings. The hustle and bustle of a typical family Thanksgiving can cause extreme levels of anxiety for someone with dementia, turning a wonderful day into a confusing and agonizing ordeal. Consequently, it can become a day full of tension for the family caregiver as they watch over their loved one with anxious eyes.
It doesn’t have to be that way. With some planning and preparation, everyone can still enjoy Thanksgiving, including the family member(s) with dementia. However, to be successful, you need to plan ahead and structure the day for the best possible outcome.
Here are some tips we’ve gathered:
Prepare family and friends. Share your loved one’s diagnosis with those who will be attending your Thanksgiving dinner. Explain the limitations the disease has created. Educate them on the proper way to approach and communicate with your loved one and how to include them in the conversation as much as possible.
Prepare your loved one. Make sure that they have had enough rest. Keep to their routine as much as possible during the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Ask for help. Ask family members for help with shopping and cooking in advance. Many families enjoy a potluck Thanksgiving to which everyone brings a dish. This can be a lifesaver in a household with a loved one challenged by dementia. You might also consider asking a relative who is close to your loved one to help by keeping an eye on his or her anxiety levels as the day progresses. They can be a big help when you are busy with other guests and duties.
Schedule dinner early in the day. Individuals with dementia are particularly sensitive to the hours between daylight and evening. This is called “Sundown Syndrome,” and, fortunately, there are ways to reduce its impact. One way is to schedule your dinner well before sunset.
Encourage reminiscing. If your loved one still has longer-term memory intact, consider bringing out some old photo albums and putting them in convenient places to inspire conversation. This can be an excellent way for younger family members to engage with your loved one, as well as with other older family members.
Provide a quiet place for “down-time.” A short nap or some quiet time off in a separate area provides a nice break for someone with dementia. Ideally, this would be a quiet room away from the main hangout spots, where they can relax. Often, for those in earlier stages of dementia, a short refreshing nap is all that is needed to enable them to rejoin the festivities.
Plan your own post-Thanksgiving “downtime.” This is so important for caregivers. It would be best if you had time for yourself to unwind and relax. If you are the primary caregiver, consider scheduling some short term “respite” care at a local memory care community for your loved one. That will give you time to tend to your own physical and emotional health and enjoy some time on your own with friends and family members.
If your loved one is living in a memory care community, consider bringing some of your Thanksgiving cheer to them, rather than disrupting their routine by transporting them to your gathering.