The excitement of the holiday season is celebrated with family get-togethers. For Alzheimer’s patients, large groups can produce fear and confusion. The disease causes brain cell deterioration and the ability to rapidly process information diminishes daily. The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter reports nearly 11% of Hoosiers 65 and older have the disease.

Macie P. Smith, Licensed Social Worker and gerontologist, researches the behavior of the older population and advises paying attention to non-verbal cues when a patient appears agitated.

“And if you’re going to have a small, intimate gathering, I also recommend doing name tags. Go ahead and put the person’s name and the relationship to the person on the shirt, so that way they won’t have to guess and wonder and try to figure out who this person is,” she explained. “It just helps with the ease of engagement.”

Reminiscing over the family photo album is a traditional holiday favorite. Despite best intentions, Smith said, asking an Alzheimer’s patient to identify a relative can be overwhelming. The questions cause them to use brain cells that are severely impacted and could produce combativeness and aggression. Singing or playing music, she suggests, are better choices.

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana chapter reports the state has 216,000 caregivers. The needs of patients are unpredictable, leaving them with sporadic break times. Stress from gift shopping and work obligations underlines the importance for a caregiver to nurture their physical and mental well-being. She advises using a calendar for scheduling enjoyable activities.

“I’ve asked caregivers, ‘So, what do you like to do?’ They don’t know, or they don’t remember, because they have been so engulfed with caring for someone else and depleting everything that they’ve had, they’ve lost a sense of self,” she continued.

For unmanageable situations, Smith recommends contacting a professional respite-care service through your local department on aging. These agencies offer vouchers to pay a certified person to sit with your loved one. Another choice is asking for help from a church member, trusted neighbor, or a Medicare or Medicaid-funded adult day service.