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Home for the Holidays: AD & the Holidays on the Internet

© Brenda S. Parris

The holidays are never easy for caregivers, former caregivers, or Alzheimer's patients. But they can be very special and precious times, full of memories to cherish, and with treasured reflections of Christmases past.

An article in the Kansas Times, "Alzheimer's during the Holidays Can Make It Hard to be Thankful", tells of some of the reasons the holidays can be difficult and confusing times for the Alzheimer's patient. But the article also lists seven suggestions for making the holidays less stressful and more enjoyable, as the caregiver plans ahead of time and finds ways to involve the Alzheimer's patient.

Barbara Bridges, author of Therapeutic Caregiving: a A Practical Guide for Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's and Other Dementia Causing Diseases shares on her Web site an adapted chapter from that book as "Minimizing Stress--During a Busy Holiday Season", where she lists nine suggestions that will help keep Christmas more stress-free.

In a Today's Caregiver article, Sheri Isaacs shares "Holiday Stress Busters" that will help caregivers as well as patients to relax and enjoy the season. Also in Today's Caregiver, Michael Plontz shares six tips in "Holiday Stress and Caregiving", and Brenda Race shares some wonderful advice in her article "Coping with the Holidays as a Caregiver"

One former caregiver, Marsha Penington of Alzheimer's Outreach, does every year a wonderful Web site, Home for the Holidays, which she fills with Christmas stories, poems, fun and humor, recipes, a tour of her home decorated for Christmas, and more.

The holidays aren't an easy time for any of us, whether we're still in that part of the journey or can only look back on the memories. But we aren't alone, and lots of people who are knowledgeable about Alzheimer's and caregiving are sharing helpful information on the Internet, and others are sharing a bit of comfort and joy to help us all along.

Since losing my mother to Alzheimer's in 1996, I try to cherish the good memories and maybe help others to do so as well. Constructing my own little Christmas Page has become a tradition for me every year since that year. It's usually just an animated Christmas tree I've made, and some of the best Christmas links I've found that might offer some respite and a bit of cheer. The above link is last year's page, but despite my hectic schedule, I've tried to slow down just a bit as I've begun working on the animated Christmas tree for this year and will post my this year's Christmas page link in one of my upcoming articles. Happy Holidays, everyone!

The copyright of the article Home for the Holidays: AD & the Holidays on the Internet in Alzheimer's Disease is owned by Brenda S. Parris. Permission to republish Home for the Holidays: AD & the Holidays on the Internet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.