Visiting During the Holidays: Signs to Look for to Ensure Elderly Loved Ones Are Safe at Home 

Nov 15, 2022
visiting loved ones during the holidays

Visiting during the holidays is a big part of the magic and when a senior is on your visit list, it’s also a great opportunity to check on their safety and well-being to ensure they are able to live and thrive at home. Although many seniors may not realize it, over time their abilities to keep up with daily tasks can become more difficult, jeopardizing their health and safety. So, when visiting during the holidays here are some red flags to keep in mind.

Visiting During the Holidays Checklist

How clean is the home?

One of the first things seniors may need to do less of is cleaning around the home. Washing floors, vacuuming, doing laundry, and keeping the kitchen in order may become too much for them to manage. When visiting during the holidays look around for signs that cleaning is no longer a priority and that may need help going forward. For example, is the kitchen sink full of uncleaned dishes? Are the bathrooms clean and sanitary? Is the trash can overflowing? All of these are signs that a normally tidy senior may not be as capable as they once were and that more help is needed.

Is clutter a problem?

A home that is cluttered is another sign to look for when visiting during the holidays. Piles of newspapers or magazines on the floor, furniture that impedes mobility, stairways stacked with items heading up or down, and rugs scattered around are all well-known risks to senior safety at home. With senior falls being one of the leading reasons for injuries and deaths, clutter can make life at home not only challenging but dangerous. For many seniors, it’s just hard to throw things away even when they have no use or value. If clutter is a problem, check out our blog “Healthy Senior Living: Fall Prevention and Response Strategies” for tips and ways to help.

Is personal hygiene slipping?

Health and good personal hygiene go hand-in-hand so when visiting during the holidays if you notice a loved one hasn’t bathed, isn’t brushing their teeth or is wearing dirty clothes it’s a flag that there is a deeper problem. Seniors who do not have a walk-in shower may simply be afraid to tackle the tub or maybe they have arthritis that makes simple tasks like brushing their teeth difficult or even painful. Keeping up with laundry is another potential problem especially when seniors must carry loads up and down stairs making it risky and for some impossible. But poor personal hygiene may also signal mental health problems like those described in the seniorhealth365.com article, “Poor Personal Hygiene in the Elderly.”

Are there problems with memory?

For those who visit often, memory problems may not be readily apparent, but when visiting during the holidays after time away, memory loss is often much easier to spot. First of all, did your loved one recognize you instantly or did it take a few seconds or even a reminder? When conversing do they seem engaged and do they actively participate or do they only react when pressed? Are they themselves or do they seem removed from the present situation or even sad or confused? All may be signs that memory is fading and while a little forgetfulness is normal, memory loss such as with dementia is not and should be addressed by a physician. Learn more about memory loss in our blog, “The Cognitive Changes in Older Adults You Should Watch For.”

Are there signs of injury?

Bruising in seniors is not uncommon because of their thinner skin and weaker blood vessels. A bump that might not even leave a mark on a younger person may cause a bruise that seems out of line with the actual injury. That said, however, bruising can also be a sign that a senior has fallen, they are struggling with balance, or has other problems such as vitamin deficiencies, medications, or substance abuse. When visiting during the holidays also look for cuts, burns or abrasions that could be the result of a fall or other preventable injuries, such as from meal preparation or other daily tasks that have become too difficult to perform safely. For a rundown of what to look for, the seniorlifestylemag.com article, “Top 10 Most Common Injuries In Seniors,” can help.

When visiting during the holidays take extra care to listen and ask questions that may reveal that it’s time to consider a move to a senior living community like Ganton’s Countryside, where care and compassion are part of everyday life. For more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.

assisted living near me

Subscribe to our blog.

Recent Posts

Home Safety for Older Adults: A Checklist of Top Considerations

Home safety for older adults is top of mind concern for loved ones and adult children. According to the AARP Home and Community Preference Survey,  79% of seniors (ages 50 and above) prefer to live at home as they age, but only about 34% recognize they may need to...

When One Partner Has a Dementia Diagnosis and the Other Doesn’t

A dementia diagnosis is a devastating event in any marriage and one that really changes everything going forward. Suddenly there are so many unknowns, so many new concerns, and so much sadness that the healthy spouse may be overwhelmed. One of the greatest of the...

What Services Do Memory Care Communities Provide?

Making the decision to move yourself or a loved one to a memory care community should be a well-informed one. All memory care communities are not created equal, but the best have several things in common. When comparing memory care communities be sure to include the...

How to Talk to Your Parents About Assisted Living

Having a conversation about moving parents to assisted living can go a lot easier when everyone is open-minded, empathetic and has good information about assisted living communities. Today’s modern assisted living communities have come a long way so before sitting...

A Checklist for Independent Living: Is it right for me?

All the changes in senior independent living have made it a much more desirable option for older adults who want to shed the responsibilities of living at home and really make retirement the best it can be. But it’s not for everyone. Before you decide, however, use...

Independent Living Value vs Cost

In general, how much something costs is often considered its value, but when it comes to independent living value, it’s essential to peel back the layers and look deeper into what value really means. When deciding where to live in retirement, at home or in independent...

5 Things to Look for in an Independent Living Community

An independent living community can be the perfect retirement solution when you choose the right senior living community. That’s why it is so important to thoroughly vet your options before making your choice. One of the best ways to do that is by touring independent...

Four Wonderful Things to Expect in an Independent Living Community

Retirement is the time of life to really make every day one to remember, whether it’s traveling, revisiting an old hobby, relaxing at home with friends and family, writing a book, or taking classes just to learn something new. All those things you never had time for...

What Is Independent Living?

Retirement brings with it many decisions, not the least of which is where to live. For many older adults, independent living is the perfect choice because it has all the benefits of a home without all the costs and hassles of home ownership. But others may not...

Share This