Tips to Support a Loved One with Dementia at Christmas

Christmas often brings crowded rooms, loud celebrations, and a rapid shift in routine. For many people, these changes feel festive, but for someone living with dementia, they can create confusion and fatigue. 

Caregivers can shape the environment for their loved one with dementia so that joy is still possible. The season’s lights, noise, and shifting plans can add strain, yet thoughtful adjustments can keep celebrations meaningful. The goal is not to recreate the past but to make the present comfortable and familiar.

The following tips can help you support your loved one with dementia at Christmas, making the celebrations enjoyable for both of you.

Caregiver Tips to Support a Loved One with Dementia

Decorate Gradually

Introduce the Christmas atmosphere gradually. Consider installing decorations gradually over a few days to avoid making a significant alteration to the person’s usual environment. Try to include them in the decorating process as well. 

Keep it Familiar

It’s essential to avoid going overboard during the Christmas season since the person with dementia may feel overwhelmed. Your loved one will feel more at ease if the day’s activities are simple.

Daily structure provides comfort. Maintain usual wake times, meals, and rest periods. Eating meals at regular intervals and in familiar environments will help reduce any potential confusion. If changes to the routine are necessary, be sure to inform the person through simple and clear communication.

Get the Person Involved

There are numerous ways to engage someone with dementia throughout the holiday season, ranging from doing a little Christmas shopping to hanging a bauble on the tree or setting up the nativity scene. One easy method to get someone involved in the celebrations is to play Christmas music and sing their favorite carols. 

Create a Calm Space

Request family and friends to spread out their visits throughout the holiday season, as a large number of guests might be daunting for your loved one with dementia.

Designate one room or place in the house as a quiet spot where your loved one can unwind without any noise if things get hectic. Some people find that using headphones to listen to music might help them feel calmer and filter out outside sounds. It reduces the likelihood of the person becoming overwhelmed and allows them to participate at their own pace. 

Reminisce on the Past

Find anything you can participate in that the person values, whether it’s an old song or a classic Christmas film. Creating a memory box or photo album for the family could be a fun way to spend time together.

Keep in mind that the person might not want to think back on certain things, such as painful experiences or people they miss. 

Pay Attention to Food

Christmas brings many festivities, and people often eat more than usual. However, a full plate can be overwhelming for someone who has difficulty eating. When serving, try not to put too much on your loved one’s plate; instead, consider offering finger foods. 

Be Flexible

While making Christmas enjoyable for your loved one with dementia, having a backup plan is usually beneficial, and you should be ready to adjust your plans if something is not working. 

Be flexible by adjusting plans to match your loved one’s energy, comfort, and routine. If an activity becomes overwhelming or the schedule feels too busy, scale back or shift to something calmer. Staying open to changes helps reduce stress for everyone and keeps the focus on shared connection rather than fixed expectations.

Plan Ahead

Consider limiting circumstances in which the person with dementia is required to remember names. Consider giving a friendly reminder every time a new person shows up, or ask the guests to introduce themselves. Speaking with family members ahead of time, particularly younger children, can also help the person with dementia prevent embarrassing situations.

If the person with dementia resides in a care facility, it can be beneficial to find out ahead of time what the facility has planned for Christmas Day. This is especially useful if the facility has limitations on the number of visitors or visiting periods. 

Donate to Support Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers this Holiday Season!

The holiday season has begun! As we come together to celebrate this holiday season, let’s take a moment to extend our support to those who are bravely navigating through challenges and hardships. Caregiving is a demanding task that often leaves the caregivers physically, emotionally, and financially unstable. The least we can do is to try to alleviate some of their burden by supporting them via donations.

Let’s honor the dedication and sacrifices of the family caregivers who devote their lives and resources to caring for their loved ones! Don’t forget to support them, which you can do by acknowledging their hard work and donating as much as possible: https://www.alzra.org/donate-now/. 

References

• How to support a person with dementia at Christmas. Alzheimer’s Society. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/how-support-dementia-christmas. Updated Online: 27th October, 2025. Accessed: 12th December, 2025.

• Top tips for dementia carers at Christmas. Dementia Carers Count. https://dementiacarers.org.uk/news/top-tips-for-dementia-carers-this-christmas/. Published Online: 19th December, 2024. Accessed: 12th December, 2025.
• How to support someone living with dementia at Christmas. Helping Hands. https://www.helpinghandshomecare.co.uk/care-advice/how-to-support-someone-living-with-dementia-at-christmas/. Accessed: 12th December, 2025.