Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to be with family and eat delicious food, but it can also be a source of stress for someone who has dementia. Unfamiliar faces, abnormal routines, lots of noise, and rich foods can all wreak havoc. Try to keep gatherings small; you may need to celebrate with a few on one day and others on another day. Try to stick to your loved one's routine as much as possible. Pro Tip: If there are people who have not seen your loved one in a while, remind them that he/she may not recognize them and that they should reintroduce themselves.

Card & Games Month

November is National Card & Games Month! If you're looking for a meaningful activity to do with someone who has memory loss, then play simple games together like Go Fish or Lucky Dog. For Lucky Dog, you will use 2 decks of cards. Give each player 6 cards face up. From the second deck, pull a card and see who has a match. If there's a match, turn it face down. The first one to turn over all the cards is the Lucky Dog!  Pro Tip: Simple games help a person feel included, and this game is a great way to involve younger generations.

Peanut Butter Month

November is National Peanut Butter Month! If you're looking for a meaningful activity to do with someone who has memory loss, then make these cute turkey cookies using Nutter Butters! Pro Tip:  Doing creative projects helps a person with dementia feel successful, and it doesn't have to look perfect to be perfect!