Dementia Holiday Activities That Lower Stress and Raise the Joy

GREAT IDEAS, Paula. Thanks for taking the time to share these...I agree the holiday music that is part of our very being (depending on where we were raised), keeps our spirits alive...and the smell of cookies baking and being able to eat some of that dough...well...YUMMY!

As always, great post Paula. I would also include caroling or singing Christmas songs in general. I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the power of music and singing with dementia patients. If you are interested in reading more check out: http://www.rightathome.net/seniorhomecare/?p=417. Happy Holidays, Bill

SandwichINK thanks for those great ideas. I have two books my daughter in law made for us but she used a different service. They are always in Bob's skilled nursing room and I get more questions on how to do them. Glad to have your recommends as well. I also coach and speak and love to have new ideas to share. That's why this web site is so terrific!

I really enjoyed this article. Lots of interesting ideas. I especially liked the one about the photo album. One way to save a bit of time is to use an online site like Blurb, Shutterfly or even Smilebox. Have the first two places print the book you put together or just print out a Smilebox card with photos. All of these are relatively easy, fairly quick (if you restrain your perfectionist tendencies - something I am still working on :) ), and even great ways to save money. Blurb's starts at 12.95 with coupons periodically for free shipping. If you don't mind if it is all black and white, you can even get the price down to 4.95. I made a photo album last night. Took me 2-3 hours (because of that perfectionism :) ) but I could have done it even faster if it didn't have to be perfect. Then ordered it and it will arrive in the mail all done. Or you can print out a rough draft. It will have Blurb's watermark but might still be a great option for an elderly parent for whom you provide dementia care. :)

I agree about finding the time but the photos idea does work wonders. We scanned and printed some photos from old slides that my grandparents had taken over the years. My grandmother loved looking at the pictures of her (deceased) husband, the farm and grandchildren as toddlers. One thing that relaxes my grandmother immensely is having a pet to hold and stroke. It calms and soothes her and the cat or small dog loves the gentle attention!

Yes time, if we had any spare time. Maybe this is the time to try a Day Center, and let them entertain for a few hours. How about a Girl/Boy Scout troop to come to your home and do crafts and music? A school of older children. A friend or neighbor? What you need is a few hours of alone time for Self Care! time to call in that family member who never does anything and let them entertain for a day. Remember you have a right to ASK for help!

A Host of GREAT HOLIDAY IDEAS to help fill up all of my excess SPARE TIME... If ONLY... (as if...)