12 Days of Holiday Activities for Those with Memory Loss

Are you spending the holidays with a loved one whose memory is slipping? It can be frustrating and hard to find activities that work for everyone.  Here are some of the things that you can do together:

1. Plan Christmas decorations together. This may include going to the mall to see a decorated tree or driving to look at lights on houses, or looking for ideas on Pinterest.
2. Read out loud the 12 Days of Christmas, or read the Christmas story from the Bible. 
3. Decorate the Christmas tree together and hang and other decorations.  Ask for their thoughts on where to put things.
4. Make gingerbread houses together.
5. Listen to your favorite Christmas songs or hymns. 
6. Ask them to put bows on the presents that you have wrapped.
7. Make holiday flavored cookies – peppermint, cinnamon, eggnog, and ginger. 
8. Put bells and other small decorations inside a bag like ribbon, small gift wrap bows, small pine cones. Set out the bag as a decoration and/or shake to hear the ringing sound.
9. Play games that young and old can enjoy together like a bean bag toss. You can also try finishing the lyrics of Christmas classic songs.
10. Look at photo albums. You may start a memory album with some of these pictures.
11. Watch a holiday classic movie, like “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “White Christmas”.
12. Have some hot chocolate with marshmallows.
    

The best solution to memory loss is not to get it!

Memory loss is difficult, not just for the person who suffers but also for the entire family. There are many things that can be done to improve memory, but it generally takes effort.  Be intentional in what you do for you and your family members.

You can learn more about the things that help keep your brain healthy at https://MemoryWellnessAcademy.com