12 Family Movies to Watch This Holiday Season With Someone Who Has Dementia

Wahela

about 1 month ago

I used to work in an Alzheimer's unit. About six of them were retired Manhattan Project scientists. Someone had put "Dumb and Dumber" on the TV. And eight people sat there and watched that movie--3 times! The attention span was just short enough that they caught the jokes and enjoyed it. While I think that movie is totally stupid, these people thoroughly enjoyed it.

Michael From­an

2 months ago

Without hesitation, I would add "Its A Wonderful Life" to the list. Nostalgia, familiar actors and a great plot make this must-see. There's warmth, laughter and tears. And it may help jog memories for some elders.

not myself

about 2 years ago

Thank you, Paula! This is my second Thanksgiving/ Christmas having my parents with us, but the first when not a one of us is in the hospital! Oops! Fate tempting--retract! Retract! My daughter, her fiance and their two little girls will be with us this year. "Groundhog Day" was first on my list of movies for all, then the standards "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Sound of Music". But I had forgotten the "Glenn Miller Story", and "Toy Story." Great additions to the list! Another one that has, to my mind, something for everyone, is "Kung Fu Panda". I have always ignored everything that even smacks of cartoon, but this one is wonderful (one of my nieces told me "Aunt Gin, I KNOW you'll like it--I know you'll LOVE it!"). Sweet message, good story, and the most fantastic color graphics! On the "movie night" over Thanksgiving, everybody tosses the names of their five favorite "we can all watch'em" movies into a hat, and the ensuing discussion is often the best of the evening, with young vs. old defending their favorites and arguing their merits. Last year I watched my brother's three girls enraptured by their maternal Grandmother's favorite, "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Never expected that! Well, it seems that I have reached the "wee smalls" and am in the rambling mode of quiet time (treasured!). Just wanted to recognize the thoughtfulness of your list. Movies seem to be the thing that really, once the day's conversation has worn, tie us all together in a 'don't have to go anywhere' shared experience. And an aside--something we're trying this year is a grandmothers, mothers, daughters and granddaughters pajama party (boys' night out, girls' night in). We're calling it the "Moms, Missies, Margaritas and Movie Night". It will either be a fabulous success or a miserable failure. In either case, it will be fodder for conversation at the next holiday family event! Thanks for smart writing, and for writing smart. Always a pleasure to be at the other end of the words.

Thanks so much for this valuable list! A stress reliever. I'm going to order some of the movies from Netflix.