Simplify to Prevent Alzheimer’s Caregiver Holiday Burnout

During the rush of the holidays, it’s easy to get overtired and feel burned out.  If you’re a caregiver of a family member with Alzheimer’s as well, you may feel additionally wiped out and wonder how you’re going to accomplish everything.

Simplify – One of the strategies you may have to implement is to do less as far as decorating, entertaining, cooking, shopping (Internet shopping is a great help here), traveling.  As much as you can, involve the family member.  For them, simplifying can keep them from being so confused. 

The last Christmas Mother was in her home, we kept things very simple.  Jim and I had to travel 275 miles to spend time with her, and I had business affairs of hers to attend to.  So I didn’t have energy to do a lot of decorating, cooking, gift wrapping, involved entertaining.

However, I remember this as a relaxed Christmas the several days we were there.  My sister and other friends dropped by and we chatted over tea and Christmas cookies (”store bought” ones because I didn’t have time or energy to bake).  Sometimes Mother knew who the visitors were and sometimes she didn’t. But she seemed to like “having company” as we called it when guests stopped by.

 I cooked a simple Christmas dinner.  Mother wasn’t sure what it was for, but enjoyed it when I had a pretty paper tablecloth and napkins. I also brought out some family dinnerware that had been packed away.  Amazingly Mother recognized it and told me about times we’d used it in the past.

We watched Christmas shows on the television.  Mother never had been one for watching TV much, but as she journeyed into Alzheimer’s, she seemed to find it entertaining.  I did some quilting, sorted family papers, chatted with her about family memories and took notes while she reminisced.

It was a different Christmas…but it was a memorable one? 

You can simplify.  Even if your Christmas is “different” from ones preceeding it, why can’t it be enjoyable?