Mother's Day Celebration for Senior Mothers with Dementia

Every second Sunday of May, we observe Mother's Day to honor mothers and celebrate motherhood. They are the first teachers, nurturers, influencers, supporters, and so much more. As such, Mother's Day is an event to show appreciation for our mothers and special mother figures. 

Honoring your mom on Mother's Day can be challenging if she has dementia. However, as a family caregiver or someone whose mother has dementia, you can still celebrate this day with your loved one. You can find ways to create new memories and make the day special. 

What are Some Facts About Women and Dementia?

Whether you are a family caregiver or hire home care services for your mom, it is important to learn a few things about women and dementia. This will go a long way in ensuring your loved one with dementia gets the care she needs.

• Women have a higher risk of developing dementia than men. 
• More women live with dementia than men. About two-thirds of the people living with dementia in the U.S. are women. 
• Dementia hits women harder than men. Research shows that at the same stage of the disease, women have poorer cognitive abilities than men. However, proper healthcare interventions can help to manage the symptoms of the disease. 

Mother's Day Activities to Engage Mothers with Dementia

When it comes to celebrating Mother's Day with mothers with dementia, simplicity is key. However, you need to ensure that the activities you choose are engaging and help to stimulate the mind. Below are five ways to celebrate Mother's Day with a mom with dementia. 

Do Something Together

One of the best ways to honor your mother on Mother's Day is to spend the day together. Spend time doing her favorite things. This could be cooking, baking, arranging flowers, scrapbooking, or gardening. Depending on her interests, you can do arts and crafts together. Encourage your mother to paint or draw. These ideas will not only be fun but will also keep your mom engaged. 

Get Outside

If your loved one enjoys the outdoors, getting out of the house can be beneficial to her. Going on a picnic in a park, taking a walk around the neighborhood, going on a day trip, or eating at her favorite restaurant will make for fun activities. Getting outside will help to maintain mobility and improve mood. 

Movies and Music

Watching a movie or playing music that your mother may have enjoyed when she was younger can help to make Mother's Day special. Playing her favorite songs presents an opportunity to not only sing along but also dance to the music. If her mobility does not allow, she can watch others dance. 

Reminisce About the Past

This is a simple but fun activity that will contribute to a Mother's Day that is full of love and appreciation. Depending on the progression of the disease, you can go through old photos or talk about earlier memories that you shared. Reminiscing will help to stimulate conversations and boost engagement. 

Pamper Her with a Spa Day

Everybody loves to be pampered. Treating your mother to a spa day or manicure will contribute to a happy Mother's Day. This is particularly true if she always enjoyed getting her nails and hair done. Alternatively, you can opt for DIY pampering and give your mother a good hand or foot massage. 

The Importance of Having a Support System

While caring for someone with dementia can be extremely rewarding, it can also be overwhelming. Caregiving can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health and adversely impact other aspects of your life. To provide loving and effective dementia care, you need to take care of yourself. One way of doing this is to have a support system. To help you cope:

• Ask family and friends for help when you need it
• Seek out other caregivers
• Join caregiver support groups 
• Find caregiver support. Support options include national caregiver organizations, and health professionals.  

The CDPAP Program

Quality senior care is important for elderly persons living with dementia, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease. 

With the CDPAP program, seniors can not only receive home care covered by Medicaid but also direct their own care. The program allows a patient to pick a caregiver of their choice, including family members or friends, and will compensate the caregiver to help with activities of daily living. That way, as a family caregiver, you do not have to take on extra jobs. Similarly, your aging loved one does not feel like a burden. In a way, this program makes it possible to celebrate Mother's Day with mothers with dementia. 

So how do I become a caregiver for my mom? Elite Choice can help. We are among 16 agencies that have been awarded as Lead FI for CDPAP in NY. As a CDPAP home care agency, we support both the at-home consumer and caregiver so patients can get the care they deserve with peace of mind. Contact us for more information.