Celebrating Father’s Day is a time to reflect on the relationship with your dad. Alzheimer’s can present challenges and obstacles that we need to navigate in order to still honor and recognize the person who we love. Father’s Day with dementia is an opportunity to creatively connect in comforting ways.
Incorporate the Senses
Taste and Smell: Make a favorite meal and dessert. Smell the aromas as you are visiting or cook the favorite dish together. Eat it together and remember other times when that favorite meal was shared.
Hear: Listen to songs that bring back memories. Remembering can be an experience that brings connection. It is, possibly, what we have missed for so long. Print out and sing the lyrics or even choose to dance along with the hits!
Look: Look at old pictures and maybe even some old scrapbooks to take a trip down memory lane. Take turns sharing about what you remember and create new memories of this day! If you have individual pictures, consider creating a family photo album together so that they can be readily available to enjoy later.
Feel: Maybe there is a favorite something- blanket, flower, trinket- that your loved one could hold or feel and see which stories are recalled. Maybe your father would enjoy working in the garden, so take him outside. Even if he sits to watch you work, a loving memory is being created.
Avoiding Potential Triggers
Knowing what triggers your loved one has is important to reduce the chances of confusion, disorientation, confusion, or distress of any form. Triggers may be large crowds, unfamiliar or changes in routines, lots of noises.
In the weeks leading up to Father’s Day, ask your loved one to talk about some favorite memories. Tailor your celebration to what is learned in your conversations and plan the day around interests and memories. Remember to take breaks between activities and limit the number of guests at one time. Keep with the routine, but be creative and flexible as well.