Holiday Connections All Year Long
Written by: Nettie Harper and Kelly Gilligan, Co-Founders of Inspired Memory Care
The holiday season is a wonderful time for families to come together. As the season draws to a close, Inspired Memory Care would like to share some simple tips for keeping the spirit alive and keeping connected to a loved one with memory impairment all year long.
Incorporate a new ritual into the morning routine. Many of our clients laugh when we begin our day with them singing “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin.’” And what better way to start the day than with a laugh? We’ve noticed the melody can make even those who can’t carry a tune sound great! Is there a song that you and your loved one might connect through? When starting the ritual, consider together which tunes are most personally meaningful, or which have the best message to start the day off right.
Create something you can admire together each day. One idea might be the centerpiece for your family dining table. Can you cut stems for your loved one to arrange, and then observe the blooms together at each meal? How about decoupaging the frame for a family photo together, and featuring it in a prominent location? Your loved one can show off your beautiful family and handiwork all at once!
Enjoy preparing a refreshment or meal, side-by-side. If you’re overwhelmed by household tasks, consider sharing them. Can your loved one help shred the lettuce or peel the oranges for a salad? Click here to access a simple recipe on our website. If the thought of him or her chopping up fruits and veggies has you a bit nervous, we recommend checking out these safety knives from Amazon. They’re brilliant!
Give thanks every day. Take a moment to pause together before mealtime for grace or a toast. Better yet, enlist your loved one to lead. Click here for a printable cue card with blessings to choose from, or write your own original lines together. Remembering to say “thank you” can support you feeling positive and connected well beyond November.
Keep in touch with friends & family. You’ve enjoyed the most wonderful time of the year with your friends and family. Now it’s back to the daily grind. Nothing draws people together like holiday sweets. So here’s one idea to stay involved with friends and family on a regular basis. Once a month, invite two or three folks over for a midday dessert gathering or cookie swap. They make the sweets, you provide the coffee, and you all share in a slice of heaven. Keep the planning simple so it’s not too overwhelming, and use paper dishware so there is no clean-up!
Don’t forget the grandkids. Did your loved one enjoy being around the grands and great-grands for the holidays? If the answer is “yes,” consider keeping the connection going year-round with technology. Use Facebook to view photos and videos together and post comments and birthday wishes. Schedule a Facetime session to share a song, poem, or bedtime wish with a beloved child. If there are multiple grands and great-grands, the week can stay pretty full with a scheduled rotation of Facetime calls, and your loved one will light up at the sound of the iPad ringing.
Each one of these simple pleasures has brought joy to us, our loved ones, and clients over the years. We hope they will inspire you with ideas to make every day an opportunity for sharing and connection.