Christmas Gift ideas for People Living with Dementia

If you're stuck for ideas, here are a few suggestions as to useful and therapeutic Christmas gifts for a loved one living with dementia.

Choosing Christmas gifts can be tricky at the best of times, but if you’re buying for a loved one with dementia, it may need a bit of extra contemplation. Obviously, many people living with dementia will continue to enjoy the things they always have. But as their condition progresses, presents that once brought joy, could potentially become incompatible with their safety or a source of frustration - for example, toffees for someone who now has difficulty swallowing or jigsaw puzzles that don’t align with the person’s current cognitive or visual abilities.

If you care for the person, you’ll have a good understanding of their present needs, abilities and preferences. If you don’t care for them yourself, it’s a great idea to talk to their regular carers about what they might need or enjoy that’s also suited to their particular stage in the dementia journey. It’s all about finding something that gels with the individual’s loves and personality as well as their physical and cognitive capabilities at the moment.

So, if you’re stuck for ideas this Christmas, here are a few festive suggestions.

Practical gifts

There are lots of products out there that can help make the life of someone living with dementia easier. Memory aids are a notable example. Calendars, whiteboards for notes and messages, digital reminders, large print day/night clocks etc. can all help the person keep track of time and reduce the anxiety that comes with memory challenges.

Motion sensor nightlights are another idea for someone who experiences sleep disturbance - a common issue for many people with dementia. A soft, motion activated light allows the person to see without being as disruptive as a bright ceiling light.

Another practical idea for someone who struggles with eating or drinking is some brightly coloured plates, cups and cutlery. Contrasting colours like bright red, yellow or blue can help people with visual-cognitive difficulties see their food better. In fact, a Boston University study found that patients eating from red plates ate 25 percent more food than those eating from white plates and drank 84% more liquid from red cups.

Fun and activity gifts

There are lots of options here. A good place to start is with any hobbies that you know the person enjoys. The trick is finding something that suits them as they are now. If the person loves reading, a few good books might be just the ticket. However, if their reading ability has declined, perhaps a large print version or audiobook might be a better choice. If they loved painting but now find it hard, aqua painting might be more enjoyable. The same goes for games and puzzles that they have always enjoyed – it’s always best to find something that aligns with their preferences and abilities now.

Other ideas include a box set of favourite TV programmes or classic films. Music is also scientifically proven to be therapeutic, so a few CDs or a homemade playlist of favourite tunes is a good bet. Anything that evokes positive memories or promotes communication can be fun for the person, whether that’s a family photo album, digital picture frame, visually stimulating book on a subject they are knowledgeable about or a memory box full of items that are personal to their life story.

Sensory and comforting gifts

Gifts that stimulate the senses or provide comfort are nice for anyone, but they can be particularly valuable for people in the later stages of dementia. Soft, tactile clothing , activity aprons and twiddle muffs or mats can help to reduce restlessness agitation and anxiety by giving the person something tactile to focus on. If you’re a keen knitter or like sewing, you can even make an apron, mat or twiddle muff yourself.

Robotic pets have also become a more common and very effective therapy for many people with dementia over the last few years (but can be quite pricey). Studies have even found that robotic pets can reduce stress, anxiety and pain. If your budget doesn’t run to that, a stuffed animal that resonates with the individual can give a lot of comfort. The same goes for dolls. Caring for a baby is something many people have done at some point in their lives. Cuddling and talking to a doll can be a hugely calming and reassuring activity for many people living with dementia.

Dementia Care at Home

At Bluebird Care Bromley, we do everything we can to practice and promote positive dementia care. If you’d like to know more about our dementia care services in Bromley, please get in touch for a chat.