Dear Kiwi and Mango,
Happy Thanksgiving! My grandmother is joining us for dinner this year, as she does every year, but this year is different. She was diagnosed with dementia and it’s gotten progressively worse. I’d really like for her and my children to make some happy memories together. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
Graham Mascomming
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Dear Graham,
Happy Thanksgiving! The Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful time to create cherished traditions, do engaging activities, and enjoy a delicious feast. It’s a time to experience Thanksgiving traditions as a family and make your celebration with your senior loved ones as special as possible.
Creating an Enjoyable Experience for All
Thanksgiving is not just about indulging in a feast; it’s a time to express gratitude and create lasting connections with loved ones. For seniors, this holiday holds a unique significance, as it allows them to celebrate cherished traditions and establish new ones with family and friends. The following are some ideas to help your family create lasting memories and heartwarming moments, despite your grandmother’s dementia, making this Thanksgiving truly exceptional for all generations in your family.
- Memory Lane: One of the most heartwarming Thanksgiving traditions is the act of reminiscing stories from the past. It’s a beautiful way to connect with your family’s history, maintaining those precious stories for generations to come. People with dementia usually have short-term memory loss but often have intact long-term memory and enjoy retelling stories from long ago, often stories that younger generations of a family may have never heard.
- Gratitude Trees: Creating mini gratitude trees is a fun and simple craft in which seniors can easily participate. Put a branch in a vase and cut out leaf shapes from paper. Distribute the paper leaves and have each member of the family write something that they are thankful for on their leaf. Collect the leaves and attach them to the branch with a ribbon.
- Embellish the Thanksgiving Table: Ask your senior loved ones to help decorate the table in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. Seniors can arrange and set the table and decorate it with candles, wreathes, and gratitude trees. You can even top it off with a centerpiece made by one of your senior loved ones. Involving your senior in decorating the table will create a positive experience that will strengthen bonds between family members.
- Gratitude Circle: Gather your family in a circle and take turns expressing your gratitude. This simple but powerful tradition strengthens family bonds, encourages positivity, and reinforces the importance of gratitude in our lives. The Gratitude Circle is an ideal way to unite generations in a shared spirit of thankfulness.
- Giving Back: Thanksgiving isn’t just about celebrating within our own families; it’s also an excellent time to give back to the community. Volunteering as a family at a local charity or shelter is a meaningful tradition in which seniors can actively participate. This tradition provides flexibility, allowing seniors to choose activities that align with their abilities. It’s also a valuable opportunity to instill in younger generations the values of empathy and kindness.
- Creative Activities: Consider making simple crafts such as handprint turkeys or decorating place cards. These creative projects are enjoyable and assist seniors in maintaining cognitive and fine motor skills. This “hands-on” tradition adds a personal touch to your Thanksgiving celebrations.
- Cook Together: Families can cook together, creating and reminiscing about traditional dishes from past family Thanksgiving dinners.
- Listen to Music or Watch a Movie: After lots of turkey and pumpkin pie, seniors and the rest of the family will want to relax, loosen their belts, and listen to beloved music or watch a treasured movie together. Seniors might be tasked with picking favorite oldies or a preferred movie. Bonding over music and movies can strengthen the ties between generations as relatives of different ages choose their favorites.
Wishing you a happy, healthy Thanksgiving with a plentiful feast and an enjoyable time with your family, from our flock to yours!
Kiwi and Mango
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