Making Christmas enjoyable for those with dementia

Gerontologist shares valuable tips on celebrating the festive season when a loved one has dementia…

Christmas can be a joyful but challenging time when a loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Keeping surroundings familiar, letting your loved one help in ways they can, and connecting through meaningful conversations are all ways to include your loved one in the celebration, says gerontologist and licensed social worker Dr. Macie P. Smith.

Dr. Macie P. Smith:

“When people are engaged and they feel valuable and they feel worthy, you have a better outcome. When someone has a condition that impairs their cognitive ability, we have to speak to the heart and the soul — and I don’t think we do that enough.”

For more than 24 years, Smith has been helping family carers and their loved ones navigate diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and dementia. In her new book, A Dementia Caregiver Called to Action: The Journey, she covers communication concerns and shares tips for providing care and where to look for local respite services — all of which can come in handy during the festive period.

Dr. Macie P. Smith:

“As we age — and as we live we are aging — we are going to need help with some level of support or care. No one is exempt from providing care or from needing care, so being able to better understand what caregiving entails and how truly it is a blessing to be able to care for someone else … you can never put a dollar amount on it.”

In her book, Smith takes readers through the logical progression of a dementia care experience, beginning with how to recognize potential symptoms before the diagnosis and what questions to ask the individual’s primary care physician. She then describes what to expect after a dementia diagnosis, answers common questions and details a range of care options available to dementia patients.

Dr. Macie P. Smith:

“Although there’s not a cure for progressive types of dementia, like Alzheimer’s, there is care — your care. So, here’s to getting ahead of the journey.”

Dr. Macie P. Smith has over 24 years of expertise as a licensed social worker and gerontologist in the United States. Dedicated to serving aging and vulnerable populations alongside their family carers. She is an HBCU alum, attaining her bachelor’s and master’s from South Carolina State University. She now serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees at her alma mater. Smith earned her Doctor of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University.

A Dementia Caregiver Called to Action: The Journey

Paperback: ‎ 59 pages / ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8879607659

Available from Amazon.com