To better understand how to create meaningful moments for people living with dementia, it’s helpful to consider their experience and how we, as caregivers, loved ones, or professionals, can adjust our approach to meet their needs.
Holiday Awareness in Dementia: Can They “Feel” the Season?
Even if individuals with dementia are unable to grasp the passage of time or recognise specific dates on the calendar, they can still experience seasonal changes based on their body’s internal clock, environmental cues, and sensory stimuli. This phenomenon is often referred to as “circadian rhythm“, the natural cycle that influences sleep, activity, and mood.
People with dementia may not be aware of the specific holiday, but they can still react to changes in temperature, daylight, and the atmosphere that typically accompany the season.
For example, shorter days and colder temperatures, common in winter, can impact mood and behaviour. Research has shown that changes in light and temperature, along with disruptions in routine, can influence emotional states, even in those who cannot verbalize their feelings. This natural response to the environment may make them more sensitive to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, potentially causing heightened agitation or sadness due to the changes in routine or familiar surroundings (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 2010.).
Changed Behaviours in Dementia During the Holidays
The holiday season, marked by changes in routine, heightened social interactions, and sensory overload, can trigger a range of behavioural responses in individuals living with dementia.
One of the primary triggers for behavioural changes is the disruption of routine. The holidays often involve travel, different meal times, or an influx of visitors, all of which can lead to disorientation for those with dementia. The unpredictability can create anxiety, frustration, or agitation. Research shows that individuals with dementia find comfort in structured environments and regular routines, and disruptions to this stability can lead to increased stress and negative behaviours such as aggression or withdrawal (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 2010).
Additionally, the emotional triggers of the season, such as memories of deceased loved ones or feelings of isolation, can amplify symptoms. People with dementia may not be able to verbally express their grief or sadness, but they may show signs of depression or nostalgia through behaviours like crying restlessness, or apathy. During the holidays, which are typically associated with family gatherings, individuals with dementia may feel more acutely the absence of people they once knew, resulting in heightened feelings of loneliness (Dementia Australia, 2021).
Offering Comfort and Empathy During the Holidays
Caregivers need to understand that the potential behavioural changes and distress behaviours linked to sadness, confusion, or overstimulation are often not intentional, but rather a natural response to the overwhelming stimuli of the holiday season. This makes it vital for caregivers to approach the season with compassion and flexibility.
Maintaining a comforting routine is one of the most effective ways to minimize confusion and anxiety. Additionally, offering emotional support, even through nonverbal gestures like holding hands or providing a calming presence, helps convey understanding and connection.
Acknowledging and validating that the holidays may trigger emotional responses is crucial in supporting someone with dementia exhibiting changed behaviours. For individuals with advanced dementia, environmental cues such as temperature shifts, light changes, and familiar sounds or smells can sometimes also trigger emotions like sadness, nostalgia, loneliness, grief, isolation, or missing family members who have passed away.
Although they may not have the cognitive ability to fully understand why they feel this way, their emotional responses can still be profound. These emotional shifts can manifest in behavioural changes, including agitation, withdrawal, or anxiety.
Understanding that people with dementia may “sense” the holidays through these environmental cues allows caregivers to approach the season with greater empathy and awareness. Offering comfort, maintaining routines, and adjusting environments can help reduce stress and emotional discomfort during this time.
The Importance of Flexibility, Low Stimulation, and Being Ready with a “Plan B”
Dementia’s unpredictability means even the most thoughtfully organized plans may need to change, “last minute” especially when caring for someone with dementia. Flexibility also means adjusting expectations and focusing on what brings comfort in the moment, rather than adhering strictly to traditional holiday routines.
The most important thing to remember is not to take things personally or feel disappointed. When caring for someone with dementia, it’s not about grand holiday celebrations—it’s about finding joy in the simple, meaningful moments you create together.
Having a “Plan B” is the best plan when caring for someone with dementia. It allows you to adapt to their emotional and sensory needs, ensuring a more peaceful and enjoyable environment. With a backup plan ready, you’ll be prepared to handle unexpected changes and maintain a sense of calm.
Simple adjustments, such as quieter spaces, softer lighting, or minimizing background noise, can prevent sensory overload and reduce agitation.
What We Think They “Would Like” vs. What People with Dementia May Actually Appreciate But Cannot Communicate
We often assume that a person with dementia will enjoy certain activities, gestures, or environments based on their past preferences. However, as the condition progresses, their ability to communicate desires and needs diminishes, leading to misunderstandings and unmet needs.
In moments of confusion or distress, a caregiver’s genuine love and concern can help provide a sense of security, as emotional understanding is one of the last faculties to fade.
As caregivers, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But when we take a moment to see the holidays through the lens of someone with dementia, we gain a deeper understanding of their world and how they experience this time of year.
The holidays, while often overwhelming, can also be a time of meaningful connection, where the simplest gestures of love, presence, and patience mean the most. By being mindful of their emotional and sensory needs, caregivers can create moments of comfort and calm amidst the chaos. The true gift of caregiving is the ability to provide that safe space for the person with dementia to feel seen and valued, even if they cannot express it.
It’s a season of empathy, where small acts of kindness and understanding can have a profound impact on the well-being of both the person with dementia and the caregiver. Through these moments of connection, caregivers can bring a sense of peace and joy to the holidays, making this time of year truly meaningful for everyone involved. By seeing the holidays through their eyes, caregivers transform challenges into opportunities for love, compassion, and shared moments of warmth.
From all of us here at Dementia Solutions, we want to wish you all a Happy and Meaningful Holiday Season!🎄
At Dementia Solutions, we’ve made it our mission to demystify dementia behaviour and continue to explore person-centred, creative, non-pharmacological solutions to manage dementia-related behaviours. We believe that awareness creation and skill-building through education is the most effective and powerful tool we have to promote and maintain the well-being of both the person with dementia and their caregiver.
If you need support in your caregiving experience or would like to learn more about our educational opportunities, please reach out to us at [email protected] and we would be more than happy to support you.
DISCLAIMER:
The contents of this blog are provided for information purposes only. They are not intended to replace clinical diagnosis or medical advice from a health professional.
