5 ways to celebrate Mother's Day with loved ones with Alzheimer's disease or dementia
This Mother's Day, there's a chance your own mother or the mother of someone you know has Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Women account for two-thirds of all Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Andrea Osborne, Capitol Broadcasting Company’s director of content, recently lost her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, and has been chronicling her family’s journey on WRAL’s family section. This will be her first Mother's Day without her mom, but she recently reminisced on recent Mother's Day celebrations and how her teenage daughter enjoyed time with her mom.
As her mother's disease progressed, Osborne and her daughter had to adapt the way they celebrated "Nana." This year, Osborne will plant flowers for her mom and maybe even make homemade ice cream.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America shared five ways to celebrate Mother's Day with a loved one with memory issues.
Reminisce together. "Familiar faces and old photos can bring joy and comfort to someone living with dementia, even if the person can’t remember the names," according to the The Alzheimer's Foundation of America. Sort through old photos together and describe them to your loved one. Just avoid asking questions like, “do you remember?” which can lead to stress or embarrassment.
Adapt old favorites. If your loved one enjoyed going out to dinner, order takeout from their favorite restaurant. If they used to play a musical instrument, sit together and listen to their favorite music.
Don't underestimate quality time, one of the best gifts a parent can receive. This can be sitting together, coloring or painting, baking, chatting or listening to music. "Focus on those things that bring joy and let go of activities that seem too stressful," according to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
Don't forget flowers. According to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, flowers are therapeutic for many dementia patients because they can improve mood, promote positive feelings and stimulate the brain. Make the flowers not just a gift but an activity by arranging them together or filling multiple vases with different blooms.
Make a Mother's Day card and read it out loud to your loved one. The act of doing so could lift your own spirits, and even if your recipient doesn't understand the words, they will love hearing your voice.
