CARING COMMUNITIES

Alzheimer's disease, care-giving and the holidays

Judith Julian
Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter
  • Holidays can be a time of stress and concern for the caregiver%2C family of a person with Alzheimer%27s.
  • A free community education program titled %22Holiday Stress and Caregiving%22 will be held Dec. 8.

HAMILTON – For many families, the holidays are a time for coming together, celebrating and enjoying each other's company. For the caregiver and family of a person with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia disorder, however, the holidays can be a time of additional stress and concern.

Caregivers may find that the usual holiday routines of decorating, shopping, cooking and entertaining are simply too much when added to care-giving duties. The Alzheimer's Association recommends that caregivers and their families adjust their expectations about what makes a successful holiday.

For instance, as the caregiver, consider discussing the upcoming holidays with family and friends before the celebration — that way, people will understand if the usual feast is scaled back a bit. Give yourself permission to do only what you can reasonably manage.

The holidays may also bring feelings of sadness when caregivers and family members remember how the person with Alzheimer's used to be around the holidays. This sense of loss is normal but may be alleviated by having the person with the disease participate in old traditions — in new ways. For example, if the affected individual used to wrap all of the presents under the tree, perhaps he or she can add stick-on bows to the pre-wrapped packages.

For adult children coming home after months away, the decline in a parent or grandparent's cognitive ability may be striking. In fact, the days after Thanksgiving are typically one of the highest call volume days on the Alzheimer's Association 24/7/365 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900. Many of these calls come from family members who are concerned about a parent's worsening Alzheimer's symptoms.

To help caregivers and family members prepare for the holiday season, the Alzheimer's Association Greater New Jersey Chapter is presenting a free community education program in Hamilton, titled "Holiday Stress and Care-giving," from 6 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Clare Bridge of Hamilton, 1645 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. The program offers practical tips for balancing seasonal traditions and care-giving. It includes ways to involve the person with Alzheimer's in the festivities, how to prepare family members for holiday gifts, and safe decorating guidelines.

For more information on this program, and to view our complete offering of local programs and services, visit alz.org/nj or call 973-586.4300.