Caregiving and the holidays

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 by Jean Bandos
Caregiving is always a challenge - especially remembering to take care of yourself.  During the holidays, it is so important to take care of yourself.  Today, I’m sharing a few tips for caregivers of someone with cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s.

How do you take care of your aging loved one and still enjoy the holidays? The National Institute on Aging has many tips to assist you, especially during this holiday season. Some key tips are to:
  1. Keep or adapt family traditions that are important to you. Include the person with Alzheimer’s Disease as much as possible
  2. Recognize that things will be different, and have realistic expectations about what you can do
  3. Encourage friends and family to visit. Limit the number of visitors at one time, and try to schedule visits during the time of day when the person is at his or her best
  4. Avoid crowds, changes in routine, and strange surroundings that may cause confusion or agitation.
You can also visit my previous blogs on caregiving and the holidays:
Caregivers' plans for the holidays
Caregiver stress and the holidays

Or, if you'd like to read about a caregiver's experience and hear her advice, read Karen Kelsey's blog post: Christmas and caregiving.

If you notice a change in cognition in your aging loved one this holiday season, or worry about their mobility, safety, or health, please contact their health care provider or a professional geriatric care manager for advice.

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