You can find joy in the season. Learning to be prepared, setting realistic expectations, and saying no can help caregivers navigate the holiday season and find joy in celebrating the holidays together with friends and family.

Dementia is a progressive disease. Every year, the holidays will be different as your loved one progresses through the different stages of the disease.

““We accommodate the disease because they can’t accommodate it,” says Hollie Glover, director of education and family support services at James L. West Center for Dementia Care.

Gifts for a person with dementia

When thinking about a gift for a loved one with dementia, think about the things that give them joy at their current stage in the disease.

Everyone has a soundtrack for their life, most often developed between the ages of 10 and 25. Look back at what the popular music was during that time in your loved one’s life and look for CDs and audio files from that time frame.

A gift with therapeutic value that connects to their past vocation or a hobby may spark joy and hours of purpose and meaning.

Sensory stimulation pads, pillows or blankets provide tactile stimulation for those living with dementia and help calm fidgeting. The pillows or blankets feature zippers, buttons, ties, and velcro that keep the hands busy opening and closing, buttoning and unbuttoning.

Preparing friends and family

Caregivers and other family members who spend more time with their loved one with dementia should prepare visitors and family members who may be traveling in for the holidays.

Let them know what to expect. Tell them clearly how your loved one has changed emotionally, mentally and physically.

Before the visit, share basic communication strategies, such as avoiding using the word “remember,”  and ways that you manage challenging behaviors or expressions.

Recognize that some of the changes may be difficult for family or friends to deal with. They may be nervous and not know what to say or be afraid to be left alone with the loved one.

Getting ready for the holidays

When your loved one is living with dementia, it’s best to keep the celebration simple. Too much stimulation can be overwhelming, causing big emotions and challenging expressions.

She suggests finding ways to include your loved one in the preparations for the celebrations with simple tasks that can be easily modified for different skill levels.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Glover says. “Let them help and feel useful.”

Gathering with your family

Keep your celebration plans simple. Give yourself time to rest, and allow others to help you.

“Have a plan B,” Glover says. “Many times things won’t go as planned, so have a back-up plan.”

The stimulus of the holidays – decorations, parties, extra people, presents – can quickly become overwhelming and may cause your loved one to respond in more challenging ways.

Be realistic in your expectations and planning. Be flexible, and be honest with your family about what your loved one can and can’t do.

Celebrating the holidays after a move to a community

If your loved one is living in a community, carefully consider whether you will celebrate in their new home or if you’ll bring them home for the festivities.

If you decide to celebrate in your loved one’s new home, take advantage of the different areas available in the community. Plan to participate in any planned holiday events with your loved one so they are in their comfort zone.

Recognizing and reducing your stress

As a caregiver, you know your loved one the best. Plan early. Be realistic. Learn to say no.

There’s nothing you have to attend or anything you have to do during the holidays, even if it’s something you’ve done forever.

Be on the look-out for signs of stress. Fatigue, sleeplessness, and headaches may be a sign you’ve taken on too much during the holidays. Muscle tension or backaches, increased anxiety, gastrointestinal issues and increased heart rate or blood pressure are more signs you’ve taken on too much.

The key to a joyful and successful holiday celebration is being realistic, flexible and being in tune to your loved one’s needs.

For more tips or links to helpful resources, check out James L. West Center for Dementia Care’s  Holidays and Dementia training on demand.

The post Holidays and Dementia: Tips for Making the Holidays More Enjoyable first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

“There is a lot of time between when a person is typically diagnosed with dementia and when they die from the disease,” said Dr. Cheryl Harding, president and CEO at James L. West. “We are dedicated to helping families live well all along the way.”

As a faith-based not-for-profit organization, the James L. West serves as a beacon of hope for families coping with a dementia diagnosis. The center provides education, support groups, short-term rehabilitation, senior day services and residential care for persons diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers.

An innovator in the field of dementia care, James L. West utilizes evidence-based practices to provide the highest quality of care, partners with schools and universities for education and research to improve upon best practices, and serves as a model for other providers in the field.

The James L. West Center has its roots in First Presbyterian Church. Eunice P. West gave funds to the church to be used to care for individuals who were living with dementia in loving memory of her husband, local businessman and philanthropist James L. West. Mrs. West understood the toll caretaking had on family members.

“Just to put it simply, the mission for James L. West has always been to be the experts in providing care for folks with dementia,” Harding said. “That’s our primary focus. Our secondary focus is providing education out into the community so more people can understand about dementia.”

Senior Day Program offers respite and support

The James L. West Senior Adult Day Program, located at 6050 Harris Parkway, serves as a bridge between home and residential care for individuals diagnosed with dementia.

The program provides flexible, secure and affordable assistance from highly trained staff Monday through Friday for families who are caring at home for their loved one who has been diagnosed with dementia.

Isolation can be devastating for many older adults with dementia and their caregivers. The Senior Day Program provides socialization with people, places and things, creating an awareness experience that helps keep the person in the present.

Participants’ families are encouraged to participate in a support group and take advantage of educational opportunities to help encourage them through the journey.

Residential program offers good life and care

The center’s pioneering approach starts with understanding each individual person – their personality, background and current needs – then designing a program of care that allows them to continue to flourish, and contribute as long as possible while receiving the support and services they need.

James L. West differs from other memory care campuses because it is licensed by the State of Texas as a skilled nursing Alzheimer’s Certified memory support facility. Individuals must have a diagnosis of dementia to qualify to live in the community.

The residential campus is home to 112 residents and is divided into separate neighborhoods designed for residents with different cognitive and physical abilities, interests and behavior patterns. Each unit is thoughtfully decorated with the particular stage of dementia in mind. Most residences have private and semi-private rooms with generous common areas, dining rooms and culinary areas.

An in-person assessment helps the center’s team determine the best placement for new residents to ensure a successful transition to the community.

Specialized short-term rehabilitation for persons with dementia and overnight respite care are offered on a space available basis at the community.

Education for family, professional caregivers

Dementia education for family and professional caregivers is central to the organization’s mission to serve as a resource on dementia in the greater Fort Worth area.

Programs for family caregivers offer free classes designed to improve the lives of those living with dementia and their families by teaching them how to “live well with” rather than just deal with the disease.

From sessions focused on facts about different types of dementia, their symptoms, stages and treatments to how to care for yourself as the caregiver, James L. West’s education team supports family caregivers. Programs are available 24/7 through the learning portal on the James L. West website.

James L. West also offers certified nurse assistant classes and continuing education for professional caregivers to enhance their skills in caring for individuals with dementia.

Visit the James L. West Education Calendar for upcoming sessions.

To learn more about the James L. West Center for Dementia Care or the Adult Day Program, visit our website, www.jameslwest.org.

The post A Shining Gem in Dementia Care in North Texas first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.