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Spooky season is upon us which means carving pumpkins, dressing up for Halloween parties, scary movies, and of course all the candy.

As the air gets crisp and the leaves start to fall from the trees it’s easy to get swept into the Halloween spirit and the sometimes scary traditions that come along with it.

For someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, who may already be having trouble remembering and identifying people, this time of year can provide some unexpected struggles.

We talked with Northbridge’s Dementia Care Expert, Vice President of Resident Engagement and Memory Care Services, Kelly McCarthy, who shared valuable insight on what to avoid and ways to make the spooky season special, and safe, for those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

4 Tips – Halloween for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia:

Decorations

Instead of purchasing that giant 8 foot larger than life skeleton to put in your front yard (we’ve all seen those crazy decorations) focus your attention on celebrating all things fall- festive colors, smiling jack-o-lanterns, flowers, pumpkins and gords.

Expert tip – avoid using black or any scary decorations, even some clowns have a sinister feel to them. You know your loved one best and what is most likely to cause them confusion or distress, be mindful of this when choosing your decorations.

Costumes

Someone with progressive memory loss may already be struggling with identifying the people around them. Adding masks or hats or decorative make up to the mix may exacerbate this issue. It’s best to avoid costumes with masks or any costume that will make you unrecognizable to your loved one.

Halloween night

Although mom or dad might have always loved sitting by the door to give out the candy to neighborhood kids, it might be time to reconsider. You never know what costumes will trigger memories for your loved one, it’s best to not put them in a situation that will cause distress or confusion.

Expert tip – preschools, adult day centers, and senior living communities will often invite people to enjoy a themed costume party. This might be a better alternative for your loved one who always enjoyed greeting kids at the door on Halloween. The costumes will most likely be on the not so scary side and it is also a create opportunity for engagement and socialization.

Commercials

This time of year there is an uptick of horror or scary movies in the theaters which means that you will see more commercials for them on TV. Whenever possible do your best to limit the possibility of your loved one seeing too many of these commercials. They could trigger bad reactions and even be the cause of nightmares.

If you are looking for fun ways to celebrate the spooky season with your loved one who may be living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, consider reminiscing about what they always enjoyed about the season and try to recreate that magic. Get creative with ways to bring the season to life without waking the dead, one fun activity to try is the classic, eating a cider donut on a string – it’s fun for the whole family!

If you are considering senior living as the right choice for yourself or a loved one, we invite you to Find a Northbridge Community near you to learn more. We look forward to getting to know you!