- Involve your relative in holiday preparations. Have your loved one help with tasks she enjoys, and adapt those tasks to her current abilities. For instance, she could help you wrap gifts or put up decorations. Just remember to let go of expectations of perfection -- the gifts don't have to be wrapped flawlessly, because the goal simply is to involve her in a way that makes her feel useful and valued.
- Maintain as normal of a routine as possible. Keep your loved one's daily routine as consistent as possible to increase feelings of familiarity and security. Talk to your guests about the routine before they arrive, and post a schedule on the refrigerator to remind them of the routine's importance.
- Tap into your relative's long-term memories. While Alzheimer's disease can severely diminish short-term memory, long-term memories about childhood traditions often remain well into the later stages of the disease. Try singing holiday songs from your loved one's childhood or reading stories from his era to tap into long-term memories of past holiday celebrations.
Sources:
Holiday survival guide. Caregiving.com. (n.d.).
Holidays. Alzheimer's Association. (November, 2007). http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_holidays.pdf
