The holidays are one of the few times of the year that the whole family gets together. For people who have a loved one with dementia, it can be challenging to plan activities to keep your loved one included and engaged. Here are some fun, expert-vetted ideas to ensure a fun and memorable experience for everyone.
1. Music and dancing
Research shows that nostalgic music can be a wonderful way to foster intergenerational connection during the next holiday get-together. Studies show familiar and beloved songs from the past can transport a person with dementia back to their younger years while reducing agitation and boosting their mood.
Dementia damages the parts of the brain that process environmental information. Concetta Tomaino, executive director (and co-founder) of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function explained in a Being Patient LiveTalk that this causes a lot of agitation and confusion.
“However, familiar music initially gets processed in deeper areas of the brain more resilient networks in the brain that are connected to long term memory retrieval,” Tomaino told Being Patient. “Emotional responses don’t get as damaged because of chemical changes in the brain [during dementia].” These areas still recognize the music, stimulating the brain from the inside.
2. Cooking or baking together
Preparing simple food together can be a great bonding activity that helps you and your loved ones engage in the present moment. While your loved ones may have trouble remembering recipes or cooking on their own, modified dinner recipes allow your loved one to participate safely. The sensory aspects of cooking also help your loved ones reminisce and remember memories from long ago.
Make sure to choose easy recipes, modify and improvise to ensure they’re safe.
For example, you can pre-cut and peel mashed potatoes in advance and let your loved one mash them. For cranberry sauce, you can pre-measure all the ingredients and let your loved one stir the sauce as it cooks. You can find more recipes here.
3. Taking a conversation down ‘memory lane’
A family get-together is the perfect time to reminisce about old memories. While people with dementia may have trouble forming new memories and remembering recent events, their oldest and most cherished memories remain salient.
“As we age, memories of long past events become more important especially with each passing decade of late midlife and old age,” Eric B. Larson, a senior investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, wrote for Being Patient about the therapeutic benefits of reminiscing through storytelling. “It’s as if our minds lay down vast amounts of earlier-in-life events that get embedded deeper and stronger into our brains’ circuitry.”
Use old family photos, familiar music, and other prompts to get the conversation going.
4. Playing games
Tabletop games and puzzles have become more popular in the last few years. Fortunately, people with dementia can also have fun with the right puzzles.
Games may help improve cognition. At Christmas (or the winter holiday your family celebrates), pick out games and puzzles while keeping in mind your loved one’s abilities. Jigsaw puzzles, memory matching games, simple board games, and even video games can make for fun group activities.
