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How to have a dementia-friendly Diwali
Religious festivals like Diwali are typically a time for family, feasting, dancing and celebration. However it can be difficult to know how to support a loved one with dementia.
Diwali is celebrated over five days, and this year the main celebration falls on Thursday 31 October. Keeping a few things in mind when organising gatherings or celebrations can help everyone to feel included and enjoy the occasion.
Five simple tips for a dementia-friendly Diwali
1. Create a 'quiet room'
Having a house full of people can be overwhelming for someone with dementia. Noises from loud music, fireworks and multiple conversations can be confusing, and may cause anxiety or distress.
A ‘quiet room’ or space to spend quality time with family members includes the person in the celebrations in a calmer and more controlled way.
2. Plan some Diwali themed activities
Think of the ways the person may have celebrated Diwali in the past and ask them if there is anything they might like to do to celebrate this year. Share photo albums, music and songs that may conjure up special memories for them.
3. Celebratory food and drink
People with dementia may need gentle reminders to eat and drink, particularly if there are other distractions. Think about a small finger buffet of the person's favourite food or snacks, as a large plate of food can be daunting especially if they have difficulty using cutlery.
4. Decorating for Diwali
If you are planning to decorate or to move things around for Diwali, try to introduce any changes gradually. Involving the person in changes may also help.
Dementia can affect a person’s visual perception, so try to keep your home brightly lit and use good colour contrast. Avoid patterns that might be misunderstood – for example pictures of fruit might be mistaken for actual fruit, and other patterns might be confusing to a person living with dementia.
5. Seek out support
Everyone experiences dementia differently and what works for one person might not work for someone else. Whoever you are and whatever you are going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for confidential support and advice all year round.
This article was first published in 2018 and updated in October 2024.
Dementia information in Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ)
Learn more about dementia in our Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) resources (in Gurmukhi script).
Barbara Bloomfield
saysAnonymous
saysHi Barbara, thanks for getting in touch. It sounds like you're going through a worrying time. Please know that you are not alone, and we're here to help.
If you're based in the UK, we'd recommend calling our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. Our advisers can listen to your situation and give information, advice and support relevant to you. More details on the support line and other methods of contact can be found at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line
You might also benefit from joining our online community, Talking Point. This is the ideal place for carers and other people affected by memory loss and dementia to share their personal experiences and offer advice and support to others going through similar situations. You can browse the conversations within the community or sign up for free: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk
In the meantime, we do have information on our website that you might find helpful: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/worried-memory-problems-or-dementia
In particular, here's a page called 'Is it getting older, or dementia?' https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-dementia-progresses/is-it-getting-older-or-dementia
If you are worried that your symptoms could be signs of dementia, use our checklist to help describe your symptoms to a GP or health professional: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms-checklist
We hope this is useful for now, Barbara. Please do talk to the GP, or call the support line for more information and advice.
Alzheimer's Society website team
Claire
says