Conquering Winter Blues for a Loved One with Dementia

Seasonal weather changes impact all of us. A blazing hot summer day evokes a very different physical and emotional response than a cold winter’s day. Yet, what many families aren’t aware of is that these same seasonal changes that we navigate through without much difficulty can bring tremendous anxiety to an individual with dementia. There is a term for the impact of seasonal changes on some individuals. It’s called SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder).

SAD is known to have an even greater impact during winter. And those darker skies and colder days during the winter can be particularly challenging on individuals with dementia.

Long, dark, winter days spent indoors can impact health.

Being cooped up indoors for extended periods of time isn’t healthy for anyone. When the weather is cold and the skies are grey, it can become isolating for an individual with dementia. The lack of activities enjoyed in warmer weather can impact physical fitness. Individuals may nap more during the day which can lead to more restlessness at bedtime. All of these changes can become major issues for a person already struggling with memory and other behavior changes.

Research also point to the negative impact of winter on cognition. One study conducted with over 3,000 dementia participants in the U.S., Canada and France, found that cognition was significantly improved during summer and fall than during winter and spring. That means that winter months can have a negative impact on memory and behavior of individuals with dementia.

If left unaddressed, prolonged winter blues can lead to depression.

In addition to impacting cognition, the culmination of feeling isolated and unmotivated to engage in normal activities can lead an individual with dementia into a state of depression. This can become a serious issue if left unattended to.

Dealing effectively with winter blues begins by acknowledging that they exist. The next step is to realize that there are things you can do to help mitigate the impact of dark winter months on your loved one’s physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing.

Here are a few tips to help your loved one get through these months and help improve your own health and outlook as well:

• Get exercise. There are many exercises that can be done indoors to help your loved one retain muscle tone and balance. For example, engaging in a few simple dance moves is a fun way to get exercise. Put on some music and move!
• Eat healthy. This is especially important as your loved one may not meet their normal levels of activity. Excessive carbohydrate intake can put on weight.
• Optimize indoor lighting. Open up the curtains to let some light in the room. Even on a gloomy day, being able to see outside can create a greater sense of openness. In addition to lamplight, flameless candles and fairy lights can brighten up the room.
• Keep the temperature comfortable and consistent. Overly warm or drafty rooms can be distracting and unsettling, creating unnecessary discomfort.
• Bring in some plants and flowers. Having a bit of the outdoors brought indoors will improve morale and add a healthy freshness to the room.
• Engage in favorite indoor activities. This might be a craft or as simple as putting together a photo album.
• Take a step outdoors. Weather permitting and with safety precautions in place, a few steps or even a short walk around the yard brings fresh air which can quickly improve breathing and reduce the stress caused by being indoors for long periods of time.
• Arrange visits from family and friends. Scheduling regular visits will add variety to your loved one’s day and give them something to look forward to. These visits will also encourage connection and engagement with others, very important for individuals with dementia.

Being aware of the impact these long, cold winter days can have on the emotional, physical and mental health of individuals with dementia is a critical first step for family caregivers. Taking actions, such as those above, will help to keep your loved one engaged and connected in a more positive way to you and their surroundings. They will feel better and more alert, and their mindset will be more positive. So will yours. And remember to remind them that winter will not last forever. The sun will shine again!

We encourage you to reach out to any of our Anthem Memory Care communities for more tips on how to help conquer winter blues for your loved one and yourself. We’re here to help!