Alzheimer's Dims Glow of Christmas

By Emily Guevara

 
When Robert Kemp walks into the room, his mother's face lights up.

But, she may not know he is her son.

At times, she thinks he is her husband, brother or even father. But he is always someone who loves her, he said.

The holiday season can be a trying time for Alzheimer's patients and their family.

More visits from family, a change to the daily routine, and the flutter of activity that surround the season can magnify the challenges for people with Alzheimer's.

Kemp and his wife, Mary, visited his mother Naomi Martin, 87, at the Dowlen Oaks Retirement and Assisted Living Community on Monday. As she slowly unwrapped the red and gold paper covering a Christmas gift, her son spoke about the road called Alzheimer's Disease.

"There is no telling what is going to come out of her mouth," he said. "She's says what's on her mind."

"She's made us laugh; she's made us cry," said Mary Kemp.

The disease, first described in 1906, destroys brain cells causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior, ac-cording to the Alzheimer's Association Web site. These problems can become severe enough to affect people's ability to work, perform hobbies and engage in a social life.

In a mild stage, people can struggle to find the right words or names for people and objects. They can also misplace objects and have difficulty with organizing. In its most severe stages, people can struggle to remember their own history, cannot get dressed properly, and experience changes in personality, according to the Web site.

During the holidays these symptoms can contribute to stress, disappointment and sadness, said David Long, director of marketing for the Calder Woods Retirement Community. The fact that they might not be able to remember traditions or family members can be frustrating to everyone involved.

But the key is to maintain a normal routine, he said.

"We still celebrate Christmas and we still celebrate the holiday seasons, but we don't make it overwhelming for them," said Long.

Adjusting holiday expectations, allowing the family member to participate in safe, manageable holiday activities, and giving them gifts that match their interest and abilities will contribute to a successful holiday season, according to the Alzheimer's Association Web site.

For the Kemps, they plan to keep the holidays as normal as possible. Martin will likely stay at Dowlen Oaks. Robert and Mary Kemp plan to visit her regularly and give her a few gifts each time.

"We're just kind of on this journey with her," said Robert Kemp, 64. "You just kind of have to put yourself in their place."