Tricks or Treats? Halloween for Those with Dementia

What could be more fun than cider, pumpkins, candy, and parades of children in Halloween costumes!

If you provide care for someone who has dementia you likely know that anxiety and agitation can cause increased restlessness and wandering. Those who suffer from dementia may find the sights and sounds of Halloween confusing and scary.  Noise in the street, costumes and strangers ringing doorbells can cause anxiety for these vulnerable members of our community.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association dementia causes a biological condition in which those afflicted lose their ability to process new information and stimulation as they once did.  Some triggers may include changes in their environment, houseguests, misperceived threats, fear from dealing with the confusion of changes around them.  No wonder Halloween can trigger problems!

In years gone by our loved one may have enjoyed handing out goodies and seeing children in costume.  Now, however, with pranks and trick being so popular, the increased activity of the evening, the effects of sundowning, flashing lights, and noisy children may be too much stimulation to handle.  Their misinterpretation of what is happening around them can increase their experience of misperceived threats.

Plan.

If your loved one experiences Alzheimer’s or dementia, plan ahead.

• Have someone with them during trick-or-treat hours to assure them and make sure them they know they are safe.
• Remember to consider the effects of sundowning. Halloween activities in and around Morgantown, WV occur at dusk just as the symptoms of sundowning are beginning to appear.
• Avoid confusion by skipping flashing lights or live fires. An individual with dementia often has visual perception changes. The eerie glow can cast strange shadows which may cause anxiety and confusion. Pumpkins or live fires can be a fire hazard if tripped on or shoved away in the confusion.
• Scary movies can be disorienting to some with dementia.They may not be able to distinguish well between what they see on the television and what is real in their agitated state. Take the time to investigate. Remember that some threats may be real!Halloween is a prime time for pranks and increasing a time for burglars and scams.
• Keep large or spooky decorations outside and at a distance. Keep indoor embellishments to smaller accent pieces.
• Consider interacting with family members or visitor by tablet or phone to avoid direct contact while still enjoying all the fun.

Keep these suggestions in mind to have a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween!