Take advantage of your holiday visit to check on older adults.
During the holidays, many of us will be visiting aging parents or relatives. It’s a perfect time to observe them in their “natural habitat” – you’ll see how they’re really doing.

This year, use some of your time at home to do 3 things: make sure your older adults are doing well, make simple home safety updates, and start important conversations about the future.

We share tips that help you focus on important details that will make a big difference in the long run.

1. Discreetly check on independent seniors

If your parents or relatives are living independently, the holidays are a great time to discreetly check on them.

By doing this every year and keeping notes, you’ll be able to spot changes more easily in the future.

Use our handy printable PDF checklist to evaluate changes in their physical, mental, and emotional health.

While you’re visiting, you might have an opportunity to make a few simple safety updates.

These easy fixes don’t take much time and will help older adults avoid common accidents so they can stay independent longer.

Try these:

Quick fixes for bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen
More quick fixes for kitchen and around the house
If their bath mats are slippery (a real hazard!), replace them with these stylish low-profile, non-slip mats

When family gets together over the holidays, it’s a good opportunity for meaningful conversations.

If you haven’t already started talking about aging and plans for the future, consider bringing up the subject at a strategic time.

You might be surprised – many parents appreciate having these conversation and will be grateful that you brought it up.

Use these tips to prepare for a successful conversation and keep a few conversation starters in your back pocket to make it easier to get the ball rolling.

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