Extra Post! Halloween with Heart: Crafts, Candy & Connection for Dementia Care

Halloween doesn’t have to be frightening. In fact, it can be a gentle and joyful way to spark creativity, sensory engagement, and shared laughter.

If your loved one is living with dementia, here are three thoughtful ways to make the day feel safe—and special.

💡 Try This: A Halloween Craft with Purpose

Pumpkin Memory Collage

Cut out pumpkin shapes and invite your loved one to decorate with:

• Orange tissue paper or fabric scraps

• Vintage Halloween postcards or black-and-white photos

• Stickers, glitter, leaves, or words they like

Talk about fall. Talk about candy. Just be together—the process matters more than the outcome.

“I wonder what you liked most about Halloween growing up…”

This is sensory, creative, and grounding—all without requiring short-term memory.

💡 Try This: A Gentle Way to Hand Out Candy

Instead of a loud doorbell and costumes that confuse, try this:

• Sit near a front window and wave to trick-or-treaters

• Pre-fill small paper bags with candy, stickers, or “hello” notes

• Let your loved one help decorate the bags ahead of time

This way, they participate without being overwhelmed. And it turns a noisy night into a shared ritual.

💡 Try This: Create a Halloween Connection Moment

Light a cinnamon candle. Put on gentle instrumental Halloween music (think vibraphone or jazz or even familiar songs like Monster Mash). Serve warm cider or a favorite cozy snack.

Ask open-ended and yes and no, present-tense questions:

• “Would you like to help me set the table for our treat?”

• “Which treat looks best to you today?”

• “This music feels like fall—what do you think?”

This turns Halloween into a moment of magic, not just a holiday on the calendar.

Caregiver Reflection

• What sounds or images feel comforting—not overwhelming—for your person?

• What’s one way you can co-create a moment together this week?

• How can Halloween be less about tradition and more about presence?

  
  

💬 Words to Carry

Not every tradition fits every season of life. But the connection still belongs.

Halloween can be soft. It can be a mug of cider, a window full of smiles, and a homemade pumpkin on the table.

Let go of what was. Make room for what still can be.

📆 Coming This Friday:🎉 “Introducing the P.A.L. Program: A Connection Tool for Caregivers” We’ll reveal our new letter-based memory activity kits—designed to deepen caregiver connection. You won’t want to miss it!

📞 Need fresh activity ideas or help navigating a noisy holiday?

Call or text us at (503) 662‑9222 or visit mobilememoryenrichment.com for support tailored to your caregiving journey. (Advanced Skills in ASL) Book a free 15-minute Caregiver Check-In.