When a loved one has dementia

Janet Cluett’s mother Dorothy is 87 and she has dementia. Dorothy still has a wickedly funny sense of humor and recognizes many of her family members, including Janet. But her memory is slowly deteriorating, chipping away at many short-term memories and her sense of orientation. Last year, when sleeping over at Janet’s house for Christmas, she woke up and didn’t know where she was. Janet says it became clear that any future holiday plans would need to adapt to her mother’s changing condition. With hundreds of thousands of Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias, navigating the stresses, travel and crowds around the holidays can be challenging. Sylvia Buchanan is the patient care manager at Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, and says it’s important to ask, who are you celebrating for? Often, we add our own expectations on the day when a small gathering would actually be more appropriate. Perhaps that means celebrating earlier than the actual day, and keeping things simple. Sylvia offers many of tips for families, whether celebrating at home or at a care facility. Click on my video to hear her sound advice. Janet is doing everything she can to make sure her mother’s Christmas is comforting and joyful. This year, that means a day trip to a family member’s house for a festive meal, and then coming back to Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre, where Dorothy has been a resident for two years. As Janet says, it’s all about her mother right now. And isn’t putting others first what the holidays are all about anyway?