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7 Tips to Make Your Holiday Table Alzheimer’s Friendly

Table setting with white and green plates and silverware.

Keeping these tips in mind will contribute to a successful dining experience for everyone gathered at your holiday table.

The holidays are a special time of the year when family from near and far gather around the table to connect, dine, and celebrate the season. With the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease climbing across the country, your get-together might include a loved one with a form of memory loss or dementia. There are easy ways to make sure everyone at the table has a jolly good time.

At Watermark Retirement Communities, we are committed to helping people thrive no matter where they reside. We gathered seven tips on how to ensure holiday meals are festive and enjoyable for everyone at the table. 

7 Tips to Make Your Holiday Table Alzheimer’s Friendly

Add Contrast. Help with depth perception by using contrasting table settings, such as colorful plates against a light-colored tablecloth. 

Bring On the Color. Prepare food in contrasting colors. Consider placing dark green vegetables beside the serving of turkey on your loved one’s plate so that the items are easy to distinguish. 

Bite-Sized Portions. Offer a selection of finger foods and options in bite-sized portions to make eating more manageable. 

The Beauty of Minimalism. Keep table decorations to a minimum so individual items are easier to see and recognize.   

Cozy. Keep the dining room at a pleasant temperature.

Make Space. Make sure chairs are comfortable with plenty of room to sit down. 

Keep it Low to Allow the Convo to Flow. Keep music or other background noise low so conversations are easy to hear. 

Margarita pizza on wooden cutting board.
A resident enjoying gourmet bites.