Halloween Dos and Don’ts Checklist

Dos

• Do try to have fun with your loved one!
• Do keep interiors well enough lit that your loved one is able to safely navigate the living space.
• Do emphasize lightheartedness over horror.
• Do instruct love one’s not to open the door. (But! Many cognitively impaired individuals are forgetful and unreliable.)
• Do keep a careful and close watch over your loved one.
• Do respond lovingly to obvious signs of upset.
• Do have a designated “safe area” or “safe space” to retreat if things get a bit overwhelming for your loved one.
• Do have quiet activities (family photograph albums, familiar movies or music, etc.) and games (e.g., simple puzzles) to prevent — or address — over-stimulation.
• Do reassure if necessary.
• Do remove decorations that cause cognitive or emotional difficulties.
• Do remove car from sight (e.g., by relocating it to a garage, if practical) if you think that doing so would discourage trick or treaters from approaching your house, without inviting burglars, pranksters, or vandals.

Don’ts

• Don’t leave your loved one alone, if at all feasible.
• Don’t take your love one into a busy or boisterous space. (Avoid loud parties, malls, or places that are likely to be populated by youthful revelers who might agitate or fatigue your loved one.)
• Don’t leave your outside or porch lighting illuminated. (Again, only do this if you are trying to dissuade trick or treaters from coming up to the house, but don’t think that a dark exterior would invite criminals.)
• Don’t over-decorate.
• Don’t use disorienting illumination. (Flickering candles and strobe lights may exacerbate balance and perceptual problems.)
• Don’t display horrifying or unsettling material on the computer, tablet, television, etc.
• Don’t over-stimulate or overwhelm your loved one with party guests or too many out-of-the-ordinary activities. (Familiarity is comforting — especially to an Alzheimer’s or dementia sufferer.
• Don’t put your own fun over your loved one’s well-being.