Tips for celebrating Christmas with a friend or family member with dementia
Christmas is a time for getting together with family and friends, but the change in routine and extra people can be overwhelming for someone with dementia. Luckily, there are ways to make your festive event easier if your guest list includes a person with dementia.
• If the house becomes very busy, designate a ‘quiet room’ without television or music where the person with dementia can rest but still be part of the festivities.
• Think of activities the person may enjoy doing, and try to involve them in what you are doing, even if it’s helping with chores like cooking or tidying. Most people like to participate and be helpful.
• Singing carols is a good activity to do with a group of people, with the added bonus of stimulating both mind and body.
• Reminiscing about ‘my first memory of Christmas’ or ‘The most disastrous Christmas dinner’ can be great inter-generational fun, children love hearing about the olden days.
• If the house is unfamiliar to the person with dementia, labels on some doors (like the bathroom and kitchen) may be useful, and consider keeping the section/house safe.
• At night time, keep a few lights on so the person with dementia is less likely to get confused and/or disorientated.
• At meal times, avoid overloading your guest’s plate, as a full plate can be quite daunting and confusing, instead encourage going back for seconds!
• Consider designating one person to be the ‘buddy’ for the person with dementia and take turns sharing this role.
• Most importantly, remember to have fun, it’s okay to laugh and with a little bit of planning your festive get-togethers can be inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
If you are concerned about memory loss in yourself or a loved one, Alzheimers Wellington offers advice, support and services for people affected by dementia across the Wellington region. Contact 0800 004 001 or www.alzheimers.org.nz...
Alzheimers Wellington
Poll: Does grocery bagging affect where you shop?
There's only a few differences between our larger chain supermarkets here in New Zealand. Having someone bag your groceries is one of them.
Does having your groceries packed for you at the checkout influence where you do your grocery shop? If so, tell us why.
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23.9% Yes
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74.9% No
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
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Six tips for improving security around your home
1) Improve outdoor lighting
Ensure that streets, driveways, and front yards are well-lit. Motion-sensor lights around homes deter trespassers by reducing hiding spots and illuminating their movements.
2) Trim your trees
Overgrown shrubs and trees provide cover for intruders. Keeping them well-trimmed around windows and doors improves visibility and reduces potential hiding spots.
3) Secure Entry Points
Ensure doors, windows, and gates are always closed when you are away from the house. Upgrade to more secure locks, deadbolts, or even smart locks for added protection.
4) Add a security camera
Place security cameras in the main entry points to your home. Doorbell cameras are also relatively cheap and a great way to keep track of who is visiting your home when you aren't there.
5) Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
You could reach out to members on Neighbourly to form a group of neighbors who can regularly keep an eye out for suspicious activity and report it. You could also check with Neighbourhood Support to see what is existing in your area.
6) Introduce yourself to your neighbours
The closer you are to your neighbors, the more likely they’ll notice when something unusual or suspicious is happening around your property
Feel free to share anything that you do around your area to deter crime.
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