As the holiday season approaches, you are likely looking forward to the opportunity to spend time with family members and friends you may not get to see as often as you would like. This season brings people together and is the ideal opportunity to spend quality time together, honor favorite traditions, and make memories you can all cherish and carry with you for years to come.

If you are a family caregiver for an elderly adult who is living with dementia, however, you may worry that this year the holiday season will not be as it has been in past years.

You know your senior is dealing with challenges that may prevent them from participating in the holiday as they used to, or may change how they interact with others who come together to celebrate. It is important for you to start talking about this issue as early as possible so you can put yourself at ease, prepare your aging parent, and also prepare those who may be interacting with your senior for the first time since they developed their dementia symptoms. While this may seem like a strange or uncomfortable conversation to have, approaching it honestly and openly can put everyone at ease, and help to make the holiday celebration as enjoyable and meaningful as possible.

Use these tips to talk to family and friends about dementia before the holidays:

-Remember to be respectful of your parent

During all of these conversations. Even if they do not hear you talking to the family members and friends, show respect and dignity in all you share. Be honest, but do not share too much, or give information that may be embarrassing or upsetting for your parent.

-Consider how much each guest may interact with your parent

When determining how much to share with them about dementia. If your family is very large, or you tend to have a more open house version of a Thanksgiving celebration, each family member may not interact directly with your parent very much. This eliminates the need for you to give extensive detail and allows you to simply refer to their dementia, and let these family members know they will notice changes in your senior, their functioning, and their personality.

-Be sure to emphasize that interacting with your parent

Is good for them. Often people become uncomfortable and even nervous around those dealing with dementia, and may not know what to do. They may want to avoid your parent or become stiff and stilted in their interactions. Encourage them to talk to your parent, interact and laugh with them, give them hugs, and otherwise treat them as they would have before, but to also be prepared for your parent not immediately remembering them, or possibly confusing them with others.

Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult who is living with dementia can be extremely difficult.

Fortunately, you do not have to do this completely on your own. Home care is available to help. And in-home senior care services provider it can be with your aging parent on a schedule that is not only appropriate for their symptoms and challenges, but also for the care you give them on a regular basis.

This means they will have access to continuous, fully customized care designed to help them handle their symptoms, challenges, and needs now, and also prepare for those that will come later as they progress further in their disease. Having this type of care as an element of your care approach for your senior is not only beneficial for them in managing their challenges, and in helping them to maintain as much Independence as possible, but can also be greatly beneficial to you. This care allows you to take a step back from these care efforts, have more time and flexibility, and also focus more on quality time and bonding with your loved one rather than always worrying about their care needs.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Elderly Care in Bel Air, CA, please call Mom's Home Care and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Our number is 323-244-4789