Five tips for a less frightening Halloween
Halloween is an exciting time of year for many children and adults. However, it can be an unsettling time for people with dementia, including almost 25,000 in Northern Ireland.
Changes in the home environment can be confusing for people with the condition, who sometimes have difficulty interpreting their surroundings.
With the growing trend of more frightening costumes and activities in recent years, Halloween can be truly frightening if someone doesn’t understand what is happening.
Some people with dementia have difficulty recognising friends and family members, so seeing people in Halloween costumes could cause additional confusion.
If you enjoy celebrating Halloween and have a loved one with dementia visiting your home, it’s important to consider their needs when planning your decorations.
- While a carved pumpkin is harmless, scary props and loud, noisy decorations designed to startle can be distressing. Also, aim to keep floors and entranceways clear to prevent trips and falls.
- If you’re concerned about a loved one with dementia, try to spend the evening of Halloween with them, or arrange for someone responsible to be with them.
- The noise of excited children going door to door after dark can feel disorientating for someone with dementia. Consider placing a sign on the door politely asking trick or treaters to skip the house as multiple callers after dark can be overwhelming, especially unexpected visitors in costumes.
- If you have children who are planning to go trick or treating, it’s best to approach nearby households in advance to check they are happy to take part.
- Households that wish to participate in the tradition often indicate this by displaying a pumpkin, so remind your children to avoid houses without Halloween decorations.
Alzheimer’s Society Regional Manager, Barry Smyth said:
“We want people to enjoy Halloween, but please be mindful of people with dementia and how the unexpected change of routine can be stressful for them.
Five tips for a dementia-friendly Diwali
Religious festivals like Diwali are typically a time for family, feasting, dancing and celebration, however it can be difficult to know how to support a loved one with dementia.
Diwali is celebrated over five days, and this year the main celebration falls on Friday 1 November. Keeping a few things in mind when organising gatherings or celebrations can help everyone to feel included and enjoy the occasion.
Steve Green, Regional Manager for the North West at Alzheimer’s Society, offers some advice for a dementia-friendly Diwali.
- Create a ‘quiet room’ – Having a house full of people can be overwhelming for people with dementia. Noises from loud music, fireworks and multiple conversations can be confusing, and may cause anxiety. A ‘quiet room’ or space where they can spend quality time with family members includes them in the celebrations in a calmer way.
- Plan some Diwali themed activities – Think of the ways the person may have celebrated Diwali in the past and ask them if there is anything they might like to do to celebrate this year. Share photo albums, music and songs that conjure up special memories for them.
- Celebratory food and drink – People with dementia may need gentle reminders to eat and drink, particularly if there are other distractions. Think about a small finger buffet of their favourite treats, as a large plate of food can be daunting for a person living with dementia.
- Decorating for Diwali – if you are planning to decorate or to move things around for Diwali, try to introduce any changes gradually. Dementia can affect a person’s visual perception, so try to keep your home brightly lit and use good colour contrast. Avoid patterns that might be misunderstood – for example pictures of fruit might be mistaken for actual fruit, and other patterns might be confusing to a person living with dementia.
- Seek out support – Everyone experiences dementia differently and what works for one person might not work for someone else. Whoever you are and whatever you are going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for confidential support and advice all year round.
Steve Green continues;
“Including people with dementia in the Diwali celebrations can evoke happy memories and create new ones, and can really enhance their wellbeing.”
Alzheimer’s Society is here for anyone affected by dementia. Their support line (0333 150 3456) provides a translation for callers who do not have English as their language of choice. They also provide a number of dementia publications and films in other languages, including Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi. To find out more visit alzheimers.org.uk
