Advice for Christmas visits when your loved one has dementia

Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year

A precious time to be with family and friends, however for people living with dementia, little and often could be the way to happiness according to a Care UK expert.

Suzanne Mumford, a dementia expert at Care UK, says high expectations and an over-whelming sense of duty can end up making the whole family sad and stressed at Christmas.

She says: “People feel they have to visit their relative, whether in their home or in their care home, for the whole of Christmas Day. Alternatively, they may bring their loved one to their own home, away from a care home environment where they feel safe and comfortable." 

Its also important to remember that the pandemic has had a dramatic effect on care home visiting and homes may still have restricted visiting based on local infection rates and the outbreak status of the home, making it more important to plan visits and outings. Find out more about our response to coronavirus.

“Christmas is a stressful time: people with dementia are ‘hard wired’ to their own, and the emotions of others particularly those closest to them, this can make them increasingly agitated. They may also become bored and distracted, or simply overwhelmed in a noisy busy setting.”

Suzanne’s tips to prepare for the festive season:

The big day

Suzanne advises that people manage their expectations and guilt on Christmas Day. She said: “I would urge people to think whether taking their loved one from their care home is always the right thing to do. That’s not to say don’t, but to recognise that Christmas at home can often be noisy and stressful, shorter visits often work well, remembering that what is good for one person is not necessarily good for another, everyone is uniquely different”.

Care UK care homes have lots of planned activities, especially over the festive season. Your loved one will feel safe in a familiar environment with their friends. If they feel tired or not so well there are experts on hand to help them get some quiet time in their room whenever they fancy.

Contrast that with being in a family home they may not know anymore with lots of noise, movement, and excited children. They may struggle to hear the conversations or understand what is being said, depending on where they are in their dementia journey, and how often they see their relatives. Sadly there is also an increased risk of contracting COVID when in a multigenerational group.

Instead, Suzanne suggests that, on the big day, you visit your loved one for a visit to chat, exchange presents, and talk about the day ahead. She then suggests following-up with a phone call, so that your loved one knows that they are very much in your thoughts, and they can share news from the day.

If you aren’t sure whether your loved one would prefer to visit your home or stay at their care home, try to talk to them, and their care team about what the best option would be.

FAQs