“The holidays can be a tough time of year for caregivers. The business of the season, gatherings with friends and family and the fact that many day programs close present challenges.

To caregivers, I have some simple advice for you: Plan ahead to help someone with dementia and yourself get the most out of the holidays. Nobody is going to do it for you.”

Sharon Rozsel, caregiver for her mother

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario knows that for people with dementia and their caregivers, the holidays can bring stress, sense of loss, tension and sadness. To help ease these difficulties and make the most of the holiday season, we have created a new holiday page on our website, complete with tips and other resources. Each week, we will add a tip sheet on timely topics such as:

• Gift ideas for people with dementia.
• Making the house safe for someone with dementia.
• Visiting someone with dementia over the holidays.
• How to make the holidays special for someone with dementia.
• How caregivers can better care for themselves.

Here’s a sample:

If you are gift shopping for someone in the early stage of the disease, give a present that will encourage the maintenance of certain abilities and slow the progression of the disease. If they are in the later stages, look for gifts that provide sensory stimulation and help bring back pleasant memories, like a CD of their favourite music.

Visit our website or sign up to receive email updates when each new tip sheet is available.