Holiday suggestions for memory impaired

With the holidays approaching, persons with memory impairment or behavioral problems may not feel comfortable in large family gatherings. However, there is much that loved ones can do to make these individuals a part of the holiday celebrations. Daniel Sewell, MD, director of the Senior Behavioral Health Unit at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, offers several suggestions to get the most enjoyment out of family gatherings during the holidays:

• Plan ahead. If the individual is vulnerable to over-stimulation, limit the activities or length of time in which he or she is inc...