When you apply the language of Spring to someone living with Alzheimer's or dementia, your stories are hopeful & can have happy endings

The language of spring is one of levity, color, energy. This season marks fresh starts, budding flowers, longer daylight hours. 

When we apply this vocabulary to the diseases that cause dementia, we write chapters that feel brighter for everyone involved. 

“In dementia, one of the most common languages we see is decay and loss and Fall and Winter,” says Dementia Care Specialist Teepa Snow. “But this is Spring for the disease, and you choose how you want to get to Winter.” 

Instead of cataloging what’s been taken, Snow suggests we release what falls away and ask, “What can we sustain? What’s possible?” 

Just as gardeners might take inventory and master plan while simultaneously enjoying newly-unfurling-flower smells, so too are we called to balance big-picture thinking and in-the-moment living. The seasons evolve endlessly, and we are most easeful when we do the same. 

Spring’s invitation: May we work with this season’s unique attributes — heightened energy, greater sunlight, and rich sensory experiences — to craft moments that allow us profound presence, peace.

The days grow longer, and the air warms and becomes fragrant with Jasmine. This fresh feeling awakens in us too, and we suddenly feel pulled to do a deep “Spring Cleaning.”

You can certainly scratch that itch, but, when you’re supporting someone who is living with dementia-related brain changes, it’s important to modify your expectations, so that success is within reach. 

“We need to set much smaller goals for ourselves and our people,” Snow says. “Do a baby step Monday, celebrate Tuesday, and look on Wednesday what we want to do on Thursday. Work with a week-long pattern and not an everyday pattern.” 

Don’t try to tackle the entire house. Pick a closet. Start there. 

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Senior Social Worker Linda Mocker, LMSW, MEd, suggests going through your person’s closet, removing winter clothes and replacing them with warmer options. 

Whatever your larger goals are, start small so that you can sustain your progress. 

“Be thoughtful and take baby steps,” Snow says. “Spring is when you think you have good energy and what ends up happening is you overextend. The trees bud before they branch.” 

And you are no exception. 

The same advice can be applied to those Care Partners who are planning Memorial Day festivities this year. 

Instead of having a huge cookout, consider a smaller gathering. 

“Think about shorter and simpler, and you can really enjoy it, and nobody gets so stressed out,” Snow says. “How can you include people and assign responsibilities without being intrusive, but seeing opportunities to create relationships?”

Mockler also suggests having a “Plan B” in your back pocket, which could include creating a quiet space that your person could access should they feel overwhelmed. 

“Assess how much they can tolerate in terms of time and the number of people. Let people know in advance so no one gets a shock,” Mockler says. “Preparing people is very important because the illness can progress very suddenly.”

You can also optimize you and your partner’s energy by syncing your circadian patterns with the daylight, Snow says. 

“The days are getting longer, so one of the things to think about is building outdoor time before lunch,” she says.

Because school is not out quite yet, and the temperatures are not terribly hot, outings are a great idea should your family member tolerate them. You might consider going to a botanical garden, beach, zoo, museum, or an outdoor cafe.

“You still want to be thoughtful about sun exposure and shading eyes,” Snow says. “A glare can keep people from enjoying the outdoors.” 

Think wide-brimmed hats, and limit the number of sun-shade transitions. This means you’d skip walking trails on sunny days because that would pose extra navigational challenges. 

“Shadows can be tricky in dementia,” Snow says. 

It becomes hard to discern between shade and holes, and this struggle can cause headaches and fatigue. This is another reason to avoid late excursions. 

Consider bringing your partner to a swimming class, which supports physical strength. Any activity that combines socialization and mobility is ideal, Mockler says. 

Wherever you go, it’s a good idea to pack a bag. You’ll include extra clothing, food, activities, and emergency identification. 

“Really think beforehand what the person can tolerate and not tolerate,” Mockler says. “Sometimes it even depends on the day. Build in a lot of stops along the way.” 

Have your partner’s favorite music playlists ready for the car ride. 

If you stay home, consider gardening during the day or going for a relaxed evening stroll. 

Regardless of how you spend these longer days, make sure your partner (and you) drink plenty of water.

If your person struggles with hydration, consider offering Gatorade or fruits. 

“Watermelon has the highest water content. There are lots of fruits and vegetables that have high fluid content,” Snow says. 

You can present low-sodium broths, and smoothies that are heavy on the fruit and ice. Even these seemingly small moments are opportunities to create sensory experiences. 

One could argue that this season is so special because it engages our senses on such a profound level. It makes sense that we want our partners to perceive that magic. 

We can achieve this by planning tactile activities that center Spring. This might mean peeling or washing seasonal fruit, or cooking a Spring meal and enjoying its aromas. It might mean adding a flower to your person’s hat. 

When planning, keep engagement short, simple, small, social, and sensory. Make sure your person is in the right space, and that it works with his or her circadian rhythm. 

And make sure that the plan is a good match for both you and your partner. If your wife loves gardening, but you don’t, consider finding a friend that would join her while you take some respite. 

Don’t forget your own self care. 

This might look like hiring help or applying for respite grants, journaling, practicing yoga, joining support groups, or attending therapy. 

“Are you doing something that grows or stimulates your brain?” Snow asks.

This could be playing bridge, or trying a new dance step. By learning something new, you are interrupting the repetition and stress, and instead engaging your senses.

“Build resilience by giving yourself the chance to charge yourself up,” Snow says. “Get outside of the box in the Spring.”