Keeping Faces Familiar This Season
The holidays are often described as a time for family, filled with familiar traditions, laughter, and togetherness. For many older adults, though, this time of year can also bring challenges. When memory fades, a room full of relatives can feel overwhelming instead of comforting.
Names may not come as easily, faces might blur together, and the constant activity can make it hard to stay oriented. With a little planning, families can help make the holidays feel warm and familiar for everyone. Small, intentional steps can keep connections strong and help loved ones feel confident and included.
Why Familiar Faces Matter
Recognizing familiar faces brings a sense of comfort and belonging. For individuals experiencing memory changes, this recognition becomes an anchor in busy or unfamiliar environments. Even when names slip away, emotional memory often stays intact. Someone may not remember a grandchild’s name, but they can still remember how that child makes them feel.
Behavior science supports this idea. The more often we revisit and reinforce a memory, the stronger it becomes. Engaging with familiar faces helps strengthen those connections while also sparking positive emotions.
Try a “Faces Quiz”
A simple and meaningful way to support memory is through a “faces quiz.” This can be done in person or virtually and works beautifully as a lighthearted family activity.
Here’s how to do it:
Gather photos of family and friends, both old and new.
Look through them together and ask, “Who’s this?” or “What do you remember about this person?”
If your loved one isn’t sure, give gentle prompts like, “That’s your grandson Jack, the one who loves soccer.”
Celebrate each moment of recognition with smiles, laughter, or gentle praise.
Even when the answers aren’t perfect, this type of engagement builds connection. It helps older adults feel successful, supported, and loved.
Add a Personal Touch
Creating a “Faces of Family” board or small photo album can help keep names and relationships clear. Label each photo with names and short notes like “Sarah – loves baking” or “Michael – tells the best jokes.”
These tools can ease social anxiety before family gatherings. They give older adults a sense of familiarity and control, and they also serve as natural conversation starters. Children or younger family members can help by choosing photos or asking questions, which turns the experience into a family bonding activity rather than a task.
Routine Builds Comfort
Behavior science teaches us that consistency brings comfort. Repeated exposure to familiar people, names, and images helps strengthen recall and reduce anxiety. Try building small routines around this idea:
Look at photos together each morning or evening.
Keep a small album nearby for easy access.
Watch short video clips or voice messages from family members.
Each of these small moments offers reinforcement through positive emotion. Over time, they create a sense of predictability and calm that carries into bigger events like holiday gatherings.
The Heart of the Season
Supporting an elderly loved one through memory challenges isn’t about testing what they can recall. It’s about preserving connection and creating joy in the moment. By focusing on emotion rather than accuracy, you help your loved one feel valued and included.
A simple activity like a faces quiz can turn confusion into laughter, and hesitation into a shared story. Even if recognition is fleeting, that spark of connection is worth celebrating. It reminds us that relationships aren’t built on perfect memory but on love and shared experience.
Here’s to fewer battles and more breakthroughs.
– Jacqueline Shackil, BCBA, MS, MSIO
