Agitation after all the excitement of Christmas? Anyone else experience this?

During the holidays or any type of celebration with others, Alz. patients tend to become agitated. It is believed to be too much stimulation and the noise level might be too high. I would suggest that a family member is designated to take a loved one away to a quiet place during the gathering. Perhaps another family member can relieve the other, etc. It is really the disease and they ( the loved one) cannot process what is going on around them, therefore, they become agitated.

Last yr as in in previous yrs, we made a big deal celebrating my Mom's Bday and Mom and Dad's Anniversary on the 23rd of Dec. Christmas morning I get a phone call from the Nursing Home that Mom's blood pressure was very low and she was unresponsive. Guess where Mom and I spent Christmas Day?? in the E.R. Mind you, while in the ambulance, Mom became chatty with the medical attendants, very concious in the E.R. and only complained of her usual leg pains. They were going to release her Christmas Day but Mom insisted that they keep her over night for observation...they kept her 3 days and 3 long nights...sundowning kicked in pretty bad.

I say all this to say, this yr very little was mentioned about Mom's bday, their Anniversary and Christmas Day tho we did acknowledege those days. It was kind of sad because my Mom has always made this time of yr a big deal, this yr she could hardly care less and I followed her lead. No worries, no anxiety, no complaints, NO E.R. visits.

Once I learned to just go with the flow...the days flow easier. It's different for sure but it is what it is.

My mother-in-law waited until today to fall apart. It was my 27 year old son who put things in perspective. He reminded me that one can't rationalize with someone who has dementia but to attempt to soothe then walk away. Don't allow yourself to be sucked into the unhappiness.

I know with my Mom, she dreads the company, it makes her nervous. The holidays, birthdays etc. when she always looked forward to this. I think too much activity and too many people sometimes can get people with Alz/Dementia confused and all worked up too the extent they get anxious and nervous. We usually give Mom an Ativan Rx from the Dr!!

My mom comes and goes between sweet and horrid. I think you just have to roll with the punches and make sure others, esp children, understand that her personality has changed since she was a younger woman. People understand.

When we had upcoming holiday activities like church and visits to friends, Mom complained she was too sick to go (she had a cold and her stomach hurt). I reassured her we had plenty of time to get ready, no rushing needed and then I gave her a dose of anxiety medication and she was fine. She has been extremely tired since Christmas though. Heck, I'M tired with having everyone in the house all week and I'm half her age! I think it depresses her when she thinks about how much she used to do for us at Christmas and now I do everything for her.

My mom is in a memory unit.....for the first month they asked us not to take her out even for Christmas....they said that often people with Alzheimers or confusion will often seem to enjoy getting together with family and friends but what they see..... is after all the activity and family are gone...they will see behavoirs decline...Blessings to you....

Anything oout of the ordinary routine for someone with late stage dementia is very disorienting for them. Their world is very small where they feel safe and comfortable. Does this mean you eclude them-no. You want the memories of good times not just the bad ones. Concentrate on the look on her face when she said "are these all for me" and forgive the outburst. the outburst is the disease-the look of happiness is your Mom.

My kids were excited as well, and he got annoyed, telling them to shut up and calm down. I told him it was Christmas and it was ok for them to have fun, even if they were a bit noisy. He was quiet after that. This morning he spent playing with his presents.

I can relate on a slight level. My mom does not have dementia, however, I think that her lack of independence and pain just escalates her frustrations during christmas. It happens every year like clockwork. She doesn't talk much, never smiles or looks at guests (or us) in the eyes .... acts surprised yet unpleasant when she gets a gift.... It's really hard....I am grateful that we are able to share holidays together, yet I feel she isn't, so I have to just ignore her because if I feed into it, it can turn into an argument which isn't necessary. I hope you and the kids had a nice Christmas. Thanks for reading!