"Creating a Calm Holiday Environment for Someone with Dementia"

The holidays are full of sensory experiences — twinkling lights, festive music, the smell of baking, and the bustle of family. For most of us, these elements create joy and nostalgia. But for someone living with dementia, the same stimulation can feel overwhelming, confusing, or even frightening.

Creating a calm holiday environment doesn't mean stripping away all the festivity. It means being thoughtful about what you keep, what you adapt, and how you create moments of joy that meet your loved one where they are.

Understanding Why Holidays Can Be Difficult

Dementia affects the brain's ability to process and filter sensory information. Things that seem pleasant to us — background music, multiple conversations, flickering lights — can create a kind of sensory traffic jam for someone with cognitive impairment.

Additionally, the disruption to routine that holidays bring can increase confusion and anxiety. New people in the home, different mealtimes, furniture rearranged for a tree — all of these changes require cognitive effort that may be in short supply.

When the brain becomes overwhelmed, you might see agitation, withdrawal, increased confusion, or behavioral changes. This isn't your loved one being difficult; it's their brain signaling overload.

Simplify the Sensory Environment

Take a "less is more" approach to decorations. A few meaningful items — a favorite ornament, a small tabletop tree, a simple wreath — can evoke the holiday spirit without overwhelming the space. Avoid blinking lights, which can be disorienting. Steady, warm-toned lights are easier on the brain.

Keep background noise to a minimum. If you play music, choose familiar songs from your loved one's past and keep the volume low. Turn it off entirely during meals or when having conversations.

Be mindful of strong scents. While the smell of cookies baking might seem universally pleasant, some people with dementia become agitated by strong or unfamiliar smells. Watch for reactions and adjust accordingly.

Maintain Routines as Much as Possible

Try to keep mealtimes, medication schedules, and rest periods consistent even during holiday gatherings. If your loved one usually naps at 2 p.m., plan activities around that — not through it.

If guests are staying in the home, minimize disruption to your loved one's personal spaces. Their bedroom and bathroom should remain familiar refuges.

Create Moments, Not Marathons

Long celebrations can be exhausting. Instead of expecting your loved one to participate in a full day of festivities, plan for shorter, meaningful interactions.

Maybe that's 20 minutes of looking through old holiday photos together, or singing one or two carols, or decorating a single batch of cookies. These smaller moments often hold more joy than hours of overwhelming activity.

Watch for signs of fatigue or agitation, and give your loved one permission to step away before they reach their limit.

Involve Them in Purposeful Activities

The Montessori approach to dementia care emphasizes engagement through purposeful activity. During the holidays, look for simple tasks your loved one can participate in: folding napkins, sorting ornaments by color, stirring batter, or wrapping simple gifts.

These activities provide a sense of contribution and purpose, which supports dignity and emotional well-being. The key is matching the task to their current abilities — not what they used to be able to do, but what they can do today.

Prepare Visitors for Success

Brief your guests on how to interact in ways that support calm. One person should speak at a time. Questions should be simple and not require complex memory. If your loved one doesn't recognize someone, a gentle reintroduction ("I'm Sarah, Anne's daughter") is kinder than "Don't you remember me?"

Encourage visitors to sit at your loved one's level, make eye contact, and speak in a calm, warm tone. These small adjustments make interactions feel safe rather than stressful.

Follow Your Loved One's Lead

Some days will be better than others. Your loved one might engage happily one moment and need to retreat the next. That's okay. The goal isn't a perfect holiday — it's a peaceful one, with moments of connection that honor who your loved one still is.

By creating a calm environment, you're not taking away the holidays. You're giving your loved one the gift of being able to enjoy them.

Call to Action: Geriatric Care Solutions' Montessori Care program supports families caring for loved ones with dementia through specialized, dignity-centered approaches. Learn more by calling 1-888-896-8275 or emailing ask@gcaresolution.com.