As the colder months move towards the Holiday Season and Christmas, people with dementia may begin to struggle more than usual because of various changes around them. If your loved one is one of the hundreds of thousands of people who is living with dementia they may be more stressed, more agitated and experience a low mood during the winter months. This can be for many reasons, including:
Issues At Dawn
There is a known issue with dementia where the sun going down brings out really horrible symptoms like irritation, aggression and anger. These symptoms can continue as the night goes on and family carers can often find this time really hard to deal with, especially because the winter nights are longer than those during other seasons. People living with dementia may also be more stressed overall because of this daily – and longer – period of disruption.
Depression
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can be an issue for 1 in 3 people living in cold northern climates, including those people living with dementia. The lack of enough sunlight over an extended period of time can make it difficult for a loved one with dementia to find any balance in their lives; and the low moods brought on my their environment may contribute to feelings of depression they already experience because of their condition, particularly in the early stages of the illness.
Sleep Issues
Problems sleeping soundly are already symptoms of dementia that are difficult to cope with. However, in winter when there are fewer daylight hours and it becomes dark on the afternoon, it can be even worse for dementia sufferers who struggle with the body’s adjustment to the darker nights starting earlier.
A Change In Routine
The cold weather of winter comes at the same time as the Holiday Season starting in early November and going right through to Christmas in late December. This time of year can be very difficult for anyone with dementia. While most of us enjoy the flashing lights and music, decorations and celebratory food and drink, the change in how familiar surrounding look and sound can be disturbing for some people. Add to that the crowds in busier streets and shops and this disruption to a routine can have distressing consequences.
How To Enjoy Winter When Living With Dementia
Fortunately, there are lots of ways you can counteract the problems mentioned above to ensure your relative, spouse or friend suffering from dementia is able to still have a good quality of life during the difficult winter period. Here are some of our favourite suggestions from the elderly care experts at the non-profit organisation The Live-in Care Hub (www.liveincarehub.co.uk/) to help ease dementia distress during winter:
- Ensure you make the most of the natural light available. Open the blinds, open the curtains and clean the windows. The more natural light, the better the person with dementia will feel. When the weather permits, and especially if the sun is shining, get outdoors to benefit even more from the natural light.
- Vitamin D supplements can help avoid Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) when there might not be enough natural light available. Deficiency in vitamin D contributes to a low mood – and that’s true for everyone not just those with dementia – so if you are a family caregiver you will benefit just as much from a vitamin boost.
- Keep the home environment as peaceful as possible and carefully think about the outdoor environment. For instance, go to the shops or for a walk when you know it will be quiet and always avoid busy or noises places whenever possible.
- Add good lighting in the home for evenings as eyesight can be affected by dementia, and the more proper lighting there is, the less likely your loved one is to fall.
- Keep a routine as much as you can as this is very reassuring to somebody with dementia.
Do You Need Extra Help?
Live-in care or home care services can be extremely helpful if a person has dementia and requires additional support. Dementia care can be very challenging for relatives so always consider looking for a professional dementia carer who will provide in-home care.
Whilst many believe a care home is a good choice for a dementia sufferer, in fact people can be extremely distressed having to move into a care home with its unfamiliar surroundings. A care home takes a person away from everything they already know at home.
Live-in care, on the other hand, enables a person to stay in their own home, where everything is familiar. Professional dementia carers are trained in providing the kind of care that keeps a person as happy as possible in winter, and all through the year. It could help maintain quality of life for your loved one with dementia.
