Christmas activities for people living with dementia

1. Honour traditions

If the person with dementia has a place of worship that they would normally visit or used to visit before their diagnosis, try to continue that tradition. It is worth considering how a visit to their place of worship can be made accessible by reviewing the person’s needs and any adjustments that can be made. For example:

• Churches and other places of worship can be rather cold, so if the person you care for gets cold easily, encourage them to wear extra layers and provide a blanket. You could put some reusable hand warmers in their pockets and bring a pillow for them to sit on
• If the person with dementia gets anxious, overwhelmed and unsettled around too many other people, you could try taking them to their place of worship outside of ‘peak time’: for example, rather than going to midnight mass, they could go earlier to say a few prayers then watch a ceremony on TV at home

If the person with dementia has or had any other festive traditions, think about how you can adapt them so they can continue to participate. For example:

• If they used to enjoy going out carol singing but now have difficulties with mobility, you could consider getting them a wheelchair so they can still join in
• If they can’t remember the hymns they used to sing, provide them with printed copies in a large font for them to read and sing along to

2. Involve them in preparations for Christmas

Depending on the physical capabilities of the person with dementia, you could ask them to help you with festive preparations to build excitement and help them feel included.

For example:

• choosing presents in the shops or online
• wrapping presents
• writing cards or place cards
• putting up decorations
• peeling vegetables for Christmas dinner
• setting the table

See all our Christmas cards and gift wrapping essentials in our shop

3. Fun and games

Try engaging with the person with dementia through some traditional Christmas games and fun activities with the family.

• Consider activities that might spark memories by playing games from previous Christmases, for example charades or boardgames like Scrabble, Monopoly, battleships, chess or draughts. If they are no longer able to play independently, play in pairs or teams so that they have assistance during the games
• If they used to play card games but find them difficult to follow now, you could try simpler alternatives like snap or Dobble
• Try some Christmas crafting with them: you could make your own cards or festive paper decorations, floral arrangements, or maybe even a wreath
• If they love music, you could try playing musical instruments together, like the piano

If these ideas sound too difficult for the person with dementia to engage with, you could try some simpler activities:

• Listening and singing along to familiar Christmas songs
• Playing pass the parcel
• Looking through old family photo albums or making a new one together
• Doing puzzles together – you can get puzzles that are specifically designed for people with dementia
• Playing with dominoes or Lego
• Colouring in together
• Reading books together or reading to the person with dementia
• Watching classic holiday films together

4. Take your lead from the person with dementia

Any activities you do with the person you care for will depend on their stage of dementia and their own preferences. It’s important to allow the person with dementia to decide how much they want to be involved – even if they cannot communicate their wishes, you may be able to tell whether they are enjoying an activity or not. You should always consider their safety and comfort first.
Some people with dementia might find Christmas activities or the general hubbub overstimulating and overwhelming. In these instances, it is important to be patient and give them time and space to relax. Designating a quiet space for them, especially if you are hosting a big family get-together, will provide a place for them to take a break if it becomes too much.

See our 12 tips for Christmas

5. Manage your expectations

You might have hopes for the perfect day together, only to find things are difficult or stressful. If this happens, try to stay calm and show your support for the person with dementia in any way you can.
If the person is in the later stages of dementia, many activities may be hard for them to engage with, particularly if they are also elderly or frail, but you can still make them feel involved, happy, comforted and loved. Try small reassuring gestures like smiling at them, holding their hand and helping them open presents, and make sure that conversations are straightforward. You could try reminiscing about previous Christmases and remind them of those happy times together by looking at photographs.

See our tips on communicating with someone with dementia