National Parents’ Day, which takes place on the fourth Sunday of July, is yet another opportunity for thankful children to celebrate parents, grandparents and other cherished loved ones who played a parental role in their lives. Established in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, National Parents’ Day was introduced to celebrate the sacrifices of parents as well as the bond of love between parents and children.
“While Mother’s Day is to celebrate maternal figures and Father’s Day is for paternal figures, Parents’ Day is a day to honor all parents, whether formal or informal,” says John Moniz, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham. “Really, there’s no wrong time to honor and thank your parents for the role they’ve played in your life. If your parent is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, National Parents’ Day is a great reason and opportunity to spend time with them doing something meaningful and enjoyable to help nurture the bond between you.”
While celebrating special events like birthdays or holidays may look different than in years past, there are plenty of ways to make National Parents’ Day meaningful, enjoyable and fun for both you and your senior loved one. Here are some examples of simple, dementia-appropriate and meaningful activities you can do with your loved one to celebrate National Parents’ Day, which takes place on July 25 this year:
1. Create a memory book.
Looking through old pictures is a great way to bond with someone who has dementia. Find some old family photos and create a scrapbook or memory book filled with meaningful moments that highlight your and your parent’s relationship. Your parent may be able to help you put the book together, or it can be something that you make on your own and take when you visit Mom or Dad. As you look through the pictures, tell your own stories about what you remember from different events and moments. It’s a fun way to reminisce over old times as well as perhaps prompt your loved one to share memories and moments they remember, too.
2. Make a favorite dish together.
Cooking together is a great activity for individuals with dementia and has the added bonus of being something that is intrinsically a bonding experience. Choose a favorite dish or treat, like a cookie or a traditional family meal, that has easy-to-follow steps so your loved one can help you as much as possible. If your loved one is unable to help, you can make the dish yourself and bring it with you so you can share it together.
3. Go on a picnic.
The summer months are perfect for picnicking outside in the park (or anywhere that’s nice). Pack a basket with easy-to-eat foods and take your loved one to a lovely spot to enjoy a meal alfresco. You don’t have to go far – even your backyard can be picturesque enough. If the weather isn’t perfect, you can also have an indoor picnic by spreading a tablecloth on the floor. Opt for finger foods and ingredients that can stand up to a bit of heat, like crackers, fresh fruits and cut vegetables.
4. Go to a farmers’ market.
Farmers’ markets are gorgeous displays for the senses, and they’re at their best on sunny summer weekends. They’re a great place to sample fresh foods, enjoy the sights and smells of the season and also a good spot to grab a tasty treat like homemade ice cream.
5. Watch a favorite movie or TV show.
Grab a blanket, pop some popcorn and snuggle up on the couch to watch a TV show from your parent’s past, or a movie that has always been a favorite of yours. If watching an entire movie is too long for your loved one’s attention span, look for silly internet videos that will cause a chuckle or two.
6. Bring other family members to visit.
National Parents’ Day is a perfect time to gather a small group of friends and family to celebrate your loved one. While you don’t want to overwhelm your parent, a small gathering of three to four people can help raise spirits and provide opportunities for interaction, reminiscing and laughter. A gathering doesn’t have to be a lengthy amount of time – even a half-hour visit can be supremely beneficial.
Tips for a Successful Celebration
For someone living with dementia, most days end up looking the same. When the opportunity presents for a celebration, this can help inject some joy and lightheartedness into the daily routine. Depending on what stage of dementia your loved one is in, you may have to adjust your expectations – sometimes significantly. Nonetheless, even small celebrations can add meaning and interest to life and are definitely worth having. Here are some suggestions for making sure any celebration is beneficial and enjoyable for you, your loved one and any guests.
Choose somewhere familiar.
Individuals with dementia can easily become confused, so when planning a gathering, choose a place that is familiar to your mother or father. This could be where they currently live, whether it’s in their home or a memory care assisted living community, or in the home of one of your siblings. If your loved one lives in a community, look into reserving a party room that can more easily host a gathering.
Keep the guest list small.
Although you may be tempted to invite a large number of people, pare down the guest list and invite only immediate family and possibly friends. Too many people can confuse and frighten your loved one, so it’s better to maintain a calm and quiet gathering. People who aren’t able to attend the celebration can still attend in a virtual way – you can have them send photos or record small videos that you can then use to create a video or upload onto a shareable album.
Leave plenty of time to get ready.
You’ll want to make sure that there’s plenty of extra time built into the gathering’s schedule. Your loved one may require a more-than-usual amount of time to get ready, and you don’t want to rush him or her. If you’re rushing around, this can cause worry and anxiety as well. Remember, calm and simple is the rule. Be sure to plan any activity or gathering during your loved one’s “good” time of day.
Keep things simple.
You don’t have to go all out by throwing a huge shindig. In fact, it’s best if you don’t, since too much hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for your loved one. Keep things simple. A small gathering with cupcakes and punch is perfectly acceptable and quite enjoyable. You can even do an “open house” type of situation if you feel as if your loved one would be up for it.
Know when to wrap things up.
Individuals living with dementias like Alzheimer’s disease get distracted easily and have short attention spans. Plan for a short party or easy activities that can be completed in a relatively short amount of time. If you have visitors coming to attend the party, you can always do something with them later after your loved one is situated. Even an hour of looking at photos, eating cake and sharing stores is enough to give Mom or Dad a wonderful National Parents’ Day.
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