Dear Hayek,
Halloween is tomorrow night. Recently, my mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, moved in with our family. I am concerned about how she will react to all of the commotion of kids in costume ringing the doorbell, my dogs going crazy, and her young grandchildren bouncing off the walls from too much sugar. Do you have any suggestions to make Halloween “less scary” for someone with Alzheimer’s, and possibly including her in the festivities? Thanks for your help!
Frye Tenning
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Dear Frye,
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia causes people to lose their ability to process new information and handle too much stimulation. Because we typically celebrate Halloween with scary decorations, costumes, and other activities that aren’t part of our normal daily routine, the holiday can cause a variety of behavioral problems. However, by following a few quick and easy steps, it is possible to make Halloween less scary for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.
- Avoid interactive or frightening decorations. Decorations that talk or scream when someone passes by them can be distressing for those living with dementia. Avoid scary decorations that are voice-activated. Stay with more neutral seasonal decorations, such as pumpkins or fall leaves. Be sure to put pumpkins and other décor on tables to avoid tripping
- Don’t put out a fake cemetery and hanging goblins in the front yard. Decorations may get you in the holiday spirit, but don’t be surprised when your loved one refuses to walk in or out of the house.
- Avoid nighttime use of flashlights, candles and light-up pumpkins. A person with dementia will have visual perception changes and the eerie glow they cast can lead to high anxiety.
- Help the person relax. Halloween is full of distractions and stimuli. Playing soothing music, engaging in a quiet activity such as reading a book together, and calming reassurance are all ways to help your loved one if they become agitated.
- Having strangers continually knocking on the door in costumes can potentially be frightening, confusing, and disruptive to someone living with a dementia-related illness. It can also be a safety risk. To prevent children from continuously ringing the doorbell and frightening your loved one, place candy outside with instructions for trick-or-treaters. If your loved one isn’t overwhelmed, encourage them to hand out the candy to the children. Be sure to supervise at all times.
- Television channels are filled with horror movies this time of year. A single scene in a scary movie can leave a lasting impression on someone with Alzheimer’s. Keep your loved one busy with other activities so they won’t watch as much TV, reducing the odds they’ll stumble upon “The Exorcist” or something even worse.
- Adapt the celebration. Replace candy with fruit or another healthy snack; too much sugar intake could increase agitation. Reminisce by looking at old family pictures of Halloween events, painting pumpkins together, or watching a non-threatening program about Halloween if the person wants to participate. Focus on what the person can and likes to do now rather than what they used to do before the onset of dementia.
- Create new memories by baking a pumpkin pie, decorating sugar cookies, painting, or carving a pumpkin with family and friends, so long as your loved one is up for it.
- Consider doing seasonal crafts, watching a fun (not scary) movie, or looking through old photographs and remembering holidays past. Focus on fall, not Halloween. Replace ghosts and goblins with a cornucopia or basket of fall flowers and pinecones. Look ahead to Thanksgiving plans or discuss favorite fall memories, such as apple picking, with the family.
- Keep the lights on in your home. A dark home gives the impression that no one is inside, thus making it more inviting for burglars or vandals. Have interior and exterior lights lit.
Hope you and your family have a very Happy Halloween!
Boo!
Hayek
