The holidays can be tough for people with sensory processing differences, including adults with dementia. There are often changes to the daily routine, transitions in and out of less familiar spaces, crowded rooms, bright lights, and loud sounds. When people are more sensitive to sensory input, their system can become overloaded and dysregulated faster. Here are a few sensory-friendly holiday tips that can support a more regulated and joy-filled season!
Sound Sensitivity
1. Avoid sounds that can be overstimulating (for example, loud music, unexpected or sudden sounds, multiple cellphone notifications going off throughout the event, etc.).
2. Try earplugs, noise reduction headphones, or a break in a quiet space as needed.
3. Play familiar music that your loved one enjoys! Have a group sing-along or dance to the tunes. Practice playing this music in the house a few days before or on your way to the event to prepare. Be mindful to turn off the music when attention needs to be focused on other skilled activities, such as eating food or engaging in a conversation.
4. Have 1:1 conversations away from the crowd to avoid competing sounds.
Visual Sensitivity
5. Keep decorations simple. Avoid lights that could be overstimulating (e.g. blinking lights, strobe lights, fluorescent lights, open flames). Choose tablecloths or placemats with simple or minimal patterns; ideally, a solid color that creates high visual contrast with the color of the dinner dishes.
6. Choose a seat that is in the most minimally-distracting part of the room (decrease visual stimulation and distractions).
7. Minimize reflections in the home that can create visual confusion. Use window coverings at night and cover decorative mirrors in common spaces.
Smell Sensitivity
8. Have your loved one wear a familiar chapstick or lotion.
9. Keep the space well-ventilated, when possible.
10. Bring familiar Sensory Smells Jars that your loved one can explore with others. Recipe inside the Freebie Library!
11. Keep large platters of food off the dining table, especially those that may have strong or offensive smells. Try to avoid or sit your loved one away from artificial fragrances, scents, or perfumes that can be overstimulating. Let the natural smells of cooking food fill the room instead!
Touch Sensitivity
12. Encourage others to ask first before hugging, kissing, etc.
13. Make sure family and friends know to approach from the front and avoid unexpected touch. For example, don’t put your hand on a person’s back, shoulder, or arm to say “hello”. This can be very startling.
14. Have your loved one sit in a lower traffic part of the room where they are less likely to be brushed up against by other people or pets. This can decrease the risk of light touch sensations, which can be unexpected & dysregulating.
15. Wear outfits that you already know are comfortable for your loved one. Avoid brand new clothing that can be itchy or irritating.
Taste Sensitivity
16. Are new tastes or textures overwhelming? Include familiar foods as part of the menu or pack extra food you know your loved one will eat & enjoy.
Sensory-friendly tips for those who seek movement
17. Build a movement-rich activity into the event. Go for a family walk or dance in the living room.
18. Recruit your loved one to help with event setup or takedown. For example, get help setting the table, washing dishes, or mixing dough.
19. Make calming movement accessible, when possible. For example, a rocking chair or glider provides slow, linear vestibular input that can be very calming. Is there a chair in the home that can support this type of sensory input in a safe way?
Sensory-friendly tips for those who feel overwhelmed by movement
20. If your loved one uses a wheelchair for functional mobility, make sure guests know not to just move your loved one without asking/notifying them first. Unexpected and surprising movement can be very alarming.
Consider the 8th sensory system: Interoception
21. Does your loved one know when they need to go to the bathroom? Do they know when they are thirsty, hungry, or full? Do they know to put on a sweater if they feel cold? Check in with your loved one regularly and look for clues that may indicate an unmet need.
Create a calming space to prevent or recover from sensory overload
22. Designate a space in your home to be a “calming zone” that is away from the crowd. Ideally, this is a quiet space with minimal distractions where your loved one can take a break if they request one or if you start to notice signs of overstimulation, sensory overload, or overwhelm.
Include calming tools in this space that can help regulate your loved one (e.g. favorite music, soft blanket, comfortable bed/chair for resting, lotion for a hand massage, cup of warm tea, favorite snack, pet cat/dog, etc.).
Prepare family and friends with an update in advance
23. Try to get everyone on the same page as much as possible before the event. Send a letter or message to family before they arrive with helpful tips. For example:
- Approach dad from the front & introduce yourself every time. He might feel startled if he does not know who is approaching him from behind and does not have great peripheral vision to see you well from the side.
- Ask if mom wants a hug before you begin to hug her. She feels most safe when she knows what kind of touch to expect.
- Please turn down the volume on your cellphone notifications. The loud sounds can be overstimulating.
Intentionally plan calming activities
24. It is ideal to plan calming activities both BEFORE and AFTER the event to support nervous system regulation. Examples of calming activities include:
- Spending some time outside before family members arrive if you have access to a safe outdoor space (for example, go for a walk, sit in the garden, collect flowers/pinecones/leaves for the dining room table)
- Lotion massage for hands, feet, back
- Heavy work activity to stimulate the proprioceptive system: rake leaves, shovel snow, wipe down the tables & windows, rearrange furniture to accommodate guests, knead or mix dough, etc.
- Coloring, drawing, painting
- Looking at pictures in a magazine, family photo album
- Taking a relaxing bath or “spa”
- Calming movement: yoga, stretching, dancing
Try to keep the routine as familiar and consistent as possible
25. A familiar routine creates more predictability for the nervous system. Try to plan family gatherings so they do not interfere with routines that are already established, including meal times and bedtime. Learn more here: “Why Bother with Routines for Dementia Care?”
Incorporate memorable traditions and customs. Reminisce about holidays over the years and enjoy what your loved one has to share.
What other strategies have you found to be helpful? Share your sensory-friendly holiday tips in the comments below!
Disclaimer: Although I am an occupational therapist and the information compiled is based on years of training and clinical experience, this is NOT a place for skilled therapeutic intervention. The ideas presented on this website and in products are for informational/educational purposes only and are not medical advice.
A website does not replace an individualized plan of care developed as the result of assessment, clinical observation, and collaboration between therapist, client, and care partner(s). If you are concerned about the cognitive, sensory, or functional abilities of yourself or someone you know, then you should talk with your physician or your therapist.