The holiday lights are up, the invitations are sent, but for someone living with dementia, the festive season might stir more than just warm memories. Unfamiliar faces, changing routines, and sensory overload can lead to confusion, agitation, or fatigue. Seeing the holidays through the lens of dementia means shifting the focus: less about doing everything, more about doing what brings comfort, connection, and calm.
Why the Holidays With Dementia Can Feel Overwhelming
For someone with dementia, the usual holiday scene – crowded rooms, loud conversations, schedule disruptions – can trigger agitation, memory confusion or tiredness. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, a person living with dementia may experience a special sense of loss during the holidays, and caregivers may feel the pressure of keeping up traditions while meeting care responsibilities.
Consider factors like:
- Changes in routine: The regular patterns of day‑to‑day life may shift, which can unsettle someone with memory challenges.
- Sensory overload: Bright décor, music, and lots of people can be overwhelming.
- Evening fatigue (sundowning): For some, evenings bring more confusion or agitation, making late‑night gatherings tougher.
The good news? With some advance planning and a few adjustments, the holidays can still be meaningful and comfortable for everyone.
How to Simplify Traditions and Create Comfort
Here are some tried-and-true ways to adapt the season so your loved one with dementia can enjoy it too.
- Adjust expectations
Let go of “everything needs to look like last year.” Give yourself permission to do only what is reasonably manageable, and to simplify gatherings.
Host a shorter lunch rather than a long dinner.- Limit the number of guests or choose a familiar location.
- Pause or shrink traditions that feel overwhelming.
- Keep routines familiar and safe
Maintaining familiar routines (meals, rests, normal spaces) helps reduce confusion.- Choose times when the older adult is most alert and comfortable.
- Ensure clear walkways, comfortable seating, softer lighting.
- Use sensory cues (favorite music, familiar scents) to signal “holiday mode” without chaos.
- Involve them in simple ways
Invite the person with dementia to help wrap a gift, set out napkins, or decorate one room, as long as it’s safe and manageable.- Let them pick the playlist of holiday songs.
- Ask them to help choose holiday cards.
- Let them press a button to light the tree (if safe and supervised).
- Reduce overstimulation
Too much activity or noise can fatigue someone living with dementia quickly.- Offer “quiet zones”—a cozy corner without the bustle.
- Keep guests fewer and focused, rather than spreading attention thin.
- Plan earlier events if evenings are harder (due to sundowning).
- Support connection in different ways
If large gatherings aren’t feasible or comfortable, find other meaningful ways to connect.- Use video calls to include family members who are unable to visit, but keep the call short and structured.
- Share a photo slide show of past holidays and ask them to tell a story.
- Bake one family recipe together without the rush.
Why This Matters
When the holidays with dementia feel confusing or exhausting, your loved one may withdraw or seem “not themselves.” By making the season more approachable, you help preserve dignity, reduce frustration, and maintain that sense of belonging. Celebrations become less about “doing more” and more about “feeling safe, valued and connected.”
How We Can Help
At Senior HomeCare of Tucson, we understand how the holidays can be a delicate balance for individuals living with dementia. Our experienced dementia care experts are trained to support older adults in a way that emphasizes comfort, routine, and meaningful connection. Here’s what we provide:
- A calm, predictable environment during holiday events.
- Support with safe participation, whether it’s decorating, simple crafts, or family interactions.
- Companionship to help reduce fatigue or overstimulation.
- Communication and coordination with family, helping everyone stay aligned and informed.
Serving Tucson, Oro Valley, Catalina, and surrounding areas, we’re here to help make this season more joyful, more peaceful, and less overwhelming for someone you love. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more!