If dementia has touched your life, you know how difficult the holidays can be. Expectations followed by disappointment and traditions slowly fading; a once joyous season often turns into what is perhaps the most stressful times of the year.

Earlier in December, I had the pleasure of being a guest on the USAgainstAlzheimer’s Activist Network call, and our very timely topic was – you guessed it – coping with the holidays. Trish Vradenburg, our co-founder, has compiled many of the tips from that call into a great piece for the Huffington Post.

Take a few minutes to read Making the Holidays Bright When Alzheimer’s Is in the Picture, and if you have a chance, listen to the recorded call. You’ll hear Susy Favaro, LCSW, from the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Virginia Biggar, Director of the USA2 Activist Network, and myself talking with both caregivers and several individuals who live with the disease every day. The callers who participated had many insightful comments and suggestions that could significantly improve this and future holidays for you and your family.

Do you have a holiday story or tip to share? If so, please leave a comment. By sharing our experiences, we have the potential to help each other immensely!

Happy Holidays!
Ann