Ideas for people with Alzheimer's and dementia to cope with Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day and the Day of Remembrance for IDF Martyrs and Martyrs of Hostile Actions.
Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Days and the Day of Remembrance for IDF Martyrs and Martyrs of Hostile Actions may be challenging days for people with Alzheimer's and dementia. The content of the days may bring up difficult memories from the past and the sirens may stress and confuse people.
Here are some ideas for coping with Memorial Day:
- It should be remembered that each person reacts differently to the issue and their normal response may also vary depending on the stage of the disease they are in.
- It is important to understand that it may be necessary to take different ways than in the past to mark this day and help him remember it, or alternatively, to protect him from the content and try to filter it, despite the great pain that the family members may be in.
- In exceptional cases where an extremely violent reaction is expected, it is recommended to consult a doctor about whether it is worth using topical sedative medication.
Dealing with the siren:
- You can point out to them that today is Memorial Day and therefore a siren will be sounded, but it doesn't have to be. It depends on the person's level of sensitivity.
- You can prepare the person in advance and tell them that there will be a siren in a few minutes and that there is no reason to worry.
- It is important to be with the person during the siren and tell them that everything is okay.
- If the person is sensitive and the siren may disturb them, you can close the windows and turn off the radio and television or put on music from another source.
Contents of the Memorial Days:
- Upon initial exposure to this content, it is worth paying attention to the person's reaction and acting accordingly.
- If the person is sensitive to these contents, it is best to avoid exposing them to these topics on television and radio.
- If the person is less sensitive, they can be exposed to the contents of the Memorial Day celebrations.
Remembrance Day at home:
- Based on your knowledge of the person, decide whether it is worth noting at the beginning of the day that today is Memorial Day and performing a number of ritual actions to help the person internalize this: wearing a white shirt, playing or not playing radio and television content as described above, preparing a memorial corner that will remind and serve as the basis for a small ceremony that can be held at home, and so on.
Participation in ceremonies:
- The decision regarding participation in ceremonies requires an early assessment of the person's reaction not only to the content to which they will be exposed during the ceremony but also to being among many people (which may make it difficult for them) and also depends on their ability to sit in the ceremony for a long time without being disturbed and their exposure to the weather that will be present at the ceremony.
- If hot weather is expected, it is important to remember the person's physical ability to be exposed to heat. It is important to ensure that they drink enough and have adequate coverage from the sun.
- It may also be necessary to arrange a chair in advance. It is advisable to equip the person with identification and an emergency telephone in case, God forbid, they get lost in the crowd.
People with Alzheimer's who are bereaved families and/or Holocaust survivors:
- It is worth including the person in the ceremony. We suggest letting them light a memorial candle and gently reminding them, if necessary, in whose memory they are lighting the candle. If this makes them too emotional, the candle can be lit without mentioning names.
- Remember that memory loss is one of the signs of the disease, so on the one hand we want to encourage recall and activate the brain and emotions, but there are situations in which memory loss may reduce the pain associated with recall.
Written in collaboration with social worker Dafna Golan Shemesh and occupational therapist Debbie Lahav
