What to Look for When Visiting Older Relatives for the Holidays

The holidays can bring great comfort and connections for seniors, especially if they get to visit with family and friends to enjoy favorite traditions. As you visit an aging loved one over the holidays, it’s an opportune time to look for any changes in their health or behavior that may have occurred since you last saw them.

Here’s what to look for when visiting older relatives for the holidays. The information you glean during holiday visits can be a starting point for ongoing conversations about your loved one’s wellbeing and quality of life.

Changes in Appearance
There may be cause for concern if you notice a lapse in personal hygiene, dirty clothing, a disheveled appearance or excessive weight loss. These can be signs of depression, dementia or serious illness.

Changes in Physical Abilities
A visit is a good time to look for changes in balance and mobility. Hesitancy in walking, difficulty getting up from a chair, changes in gait or pain during movement may signal joint, muscle or neurological problems.

Mental or Emotional Changes
Look for signs of depression and anxiety, including withdrawal from social activities or a loss of interest in hobbies. Depression and other mental disorders can take a toll on daily life by causing stress, insomnia, fatigue and pain, which in turn can affect memory, concentration and decision-making.

Changes in the Home Environment
Is your loved one keeping their house to their normal standards and maintaining their home as usual? If you see concerning items like excessive clutter, dirty dishes and laundry, expired food or scorched cookware, it may be time to enlist help.

In addition, a holiday visit is a good time to look for household hazards that could increase the risk of falling. Poorly placed furniture and electrical cords, slippery rugs and dim lighting can create problems in the home.

If you notice concerning changes during a visit, it’s important to make an appointment for your loved one to see a doctor to discuss your observations.

If you have questions or feel that your loved one could benefit from personal home care, Kadan Homecare would be happy to share our knowledge and experience with you and your family. Our compassionate caregivers act as your eyes and ears when you can’t be near your loved ones consistently. We see and hear what can’t be noticed in a phone call. For more information or to talk with our team, call 770-396-8997 or email info@kadan.org.

Dina Kadan White2023-12-18T13:59:24+00:00December 18th, 2023|

About the Author: Dina Kadan White

As Vice President of Kadan Homecare, White oversees the day-to-to day operations and assists with strategic planning for company. White has worked with Kadan full-time for the past 11 years, although she has been engaged with the family-run firm at some level for most of her adult life. Prior to joining Kadan, White served as Director of Product Development at Equifax and previously was a Marketing Director with Wachovia. These jobs prepared her well for a position where she works for the benefit of all aspects of this highly client-focused agency. White holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Private Duty Association, a membership organization for firms whose homecare model is to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, create a plan of care for the client and work toward a safe and secure environment for the person at home. White is also a member of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.