Video taken two years ago when Janice Sachs was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's shows happy times during a holiday gathering.
This year is going to be different, and the whole family is waiting with anticipation.
"No sibling rivalry in the house, you have to keep things down," said Kelly Ulanday, Janice's adult daughter and a mother herself.
Kelly's kids were young when their grandma was diagnosed, but they understand the disease with open dialogue.
"You got to step into her world and try to look at what's going on through her eyes," said John Sachs, Kelly's father and Janice's husband.
Rebecca Axline, a clinical social worker, says their family is doing everything right but adds there are many ways to describe the disease and suggests a different explanation for families with younger children or those learning about the Alzheimer's or dementia for the first time.
"Six to eight years old you're just going to be simple about the explanation and then just say that things might be a little different. Grandma might forget your name because you look a lot like me and so grandma might get confused because she remembers me as a little girl," said Rebecca.
John and Kelly say that even though Janice can't remember them, it still gives them comfort.
"She said, oh yes, Christmas, I love Christmas. It's my favorite holiday. It's when all the kids and everybody comes over, and we spend time together as a family. So even through all of this, our family is the first thing in her heart. And she said, I love my family dearly. They're the most important thing to me," said Kelly.
Experts say Alzheimer's patients often have memories from long ago rather than recent memories.
They say you can still include family members in holiday traditions by asking them multiple choice questions like, do you like green Christmas trees or sparkly ones?
They can also sometimes remember bible verses or music.
