Looking in on Aging Relatives: A Home-for-the-Holidays Checklist

By Caring.com Staff

Every year, nursing home and assisted living administrators share the same story: Around the holidays, admissions spike. The reason? Adult children who may not have seen their aging-
in-place relatives since the last holiday season come home for a visit and are shocked by what they see: a once well-kept home now in disarray, or a formerly robust relative looking startlingly frail.

5 Secrets to Aging Well

Sometimes, of course, you may in fact come home to a real emergency, and residential care may in fact be the best option. Other times, the problems can be handled without a move, by measures such
as enlisting part-time, in-home caregivers, helping your relatives register at an adult day center, or hiring a housekeeper and signing them up for a meal delivery service. (Check out Caring Local for
resources in your family’s area.)
Before you can help, though, you need get a realistic sense of where things stand. Asking direct questions right off the bat may put your relatives on the defensive, but you can learn a lot simply by looking around. This “home for the holidays” checklist will help you cover all the bases:

Looking in on Aging Relatives: A Home-for-the-Holidays Checklist originally appeared on Caring.com.

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KS G.

5:42AM PDT on Oct 10, 2011

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Berny P.

12:59AM PDT on Mar 24, 2011

good info thanks

Kate B.

9:09AM PST on Nov 29, 2010

Our aging relatives are the foundation of the family, thank you for the information.

gerlinde p.

10:25PM PST on Nov 28, 2010

very good information thankyou

Deanna S.

2:36PM PST on Nov 28, 2010

Thanks for reminding me.

Am M.

8:57AM PST on Nov 28, 2010

Communication and vigilance is key. These are really great pointers for children and relatives to have written down in a list. Remember them also for caregivers who support an aging or disabled relative.

Sophi S.

3:25AM PST on Nov 27, 2010

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8:39PM PST on Nov 26, 2010

I have an aging relative - me!

I'm 68 and I am feeling good and I'm very busy, in my retirement (that's a joke!) volunteering in my church and with Care2.

I have friends and enough money and I am satisfied. My health is excellent. I am grateful and I'm going to use every day that I have left to do those things that will count 100 years from now!

Take me home, LORD, but if you still want me to work for you here, that's ok. I'm having fun!!

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing. Psalm 92:14
Well, I could lose about 20 pounds, lol.

jane r.

4:20PM PST on Nov 26, 2010

Thanks for the reminder.

Kath R.

12:29PM PST on Nov 26, 2010

I have the opportunity to visit a number of seniors in their homes. Many only get the occasional call (if that) from family. Some get daily visits from grand children to their own siblings. As long as someone is visiting both "types" seen quite happy and healthy.