The holidays often bring families together for the first time in months. Many adult children use this time to check in on how their aging parents are doing at home. Changes that seem small at first can be early signs that a loved one may need more support to stay safe, healthy, and independent. This guide will help you understand what to look for and what steps to take.

1. Changes in Household Cleanliness or Organization

If the home is more cluttered than usual, mail is piling up, or expired food is in the refrigerator, this can signal difficulty with daily routines. Early cognitive decline often shows up in household management.

2. Memory Problems or Repeated Questions

Repeating the same question, forgetting details of holiday plans, or seeming confused during family gatherings may indicate more than normal aging. Holidays can highlight memory changes.

3. Decline in Personal Hygiene

Noticing unwashed hair, wearing the same clothing repeatedly, or body odor can indicate mobility limitations, depression, or early dementia symptoms. Many older adults avoid bathing when it begins to feel confusing or unsafe.

4. Weight Loss or Poor Nutrition

Look for signs like an empty fridge, expired groceries, or little evidence of regular meals. Seniors with dementia may forget to eat or lose interest in preparing food.

5. Difficulty Moving Safely Around the Home

If your parent holds onto furniture, appears unsteady, or hesitates with stairs, this increases fall risk. Falls often spike during the holiday season when the home is busier than usual.

6. Struggles With Medications or Paperwork

Mixed up medication bottles, missed doses, or unopened mail can signal challenges with executive functioning. This is a common early sign of dementia or cognitive decline.

7. Changes in Personality or Mood

Withdrawing from conversations, showing irritability, or becoming overwhelmed in social settings can indicate anxiety, depression, or dementia. Holidays tend to amplify these shifts.

8. Concerns With Driving Ability

Look for dents on the car, fear of driving, or stories that do not quite make sense about recent trips. Dementia affects reaction time and judgment, especially around holiday traffic and unpredictable conditions.

9. Trouble Following Conversations

If your loved one loses their train of thought or struggles to keep up with group conversations, this may be a sign of cognitive decline. This often becomes more visible during the holidays.

10. Feeling Overwhelmed by the Holiday Routine

Confusion about meal times, guests, or even familiar faces may indicate that your parent needs more structured daily support. This is particularly common in the early stages of dementia.

What to Do If You Notice These Warning Signs

Have a Gentle and Supportive Conversation

Ask questions like:
“What has been feeling harder lately”
“Would it help to have someone check in or assist with a few tasks”
Approach with compassion and curiosity instead of correction.

Talk With Other Family Members

Siblings or nearby relatives may have observed additional changes you did not see during your visit.

Schedule a Medical Evaluation

If you are concerned about dementia, memory changes, or safety, a doctor can help assess what is happening and guide next steps.

Explore In Home Care Before a Crisis Happens

Even a few hours of care weekly can support:

• Medication reminders
• Safer mobility
• Meal preparation
• Hydration support
• Personal care
• Dementia friendly routines
• Companionship

Early support helps extend independence.

Create a Plan if You Live Out of State

Long distance caregiving can be stressful, especially when you are trying to monitor changes from far away. A local professional caregiver can provide consistent updates, document concerns, and ensure daily safety.

It is important to remember that families should not hire just anyone to check in on their loved one. Hiring a friend of a friend or someone who is not part of a licensed agency creates serious risks. This can include lack of background checks, no training in dementia care, no accountability, and no protection if the caregiver does not show up or if something goes wrong. An agency provides oversight, emergency backup care, verified training, and compliance with state requirements that protect both your loved one and your family.

Working with a trusted home care agency ensures that the person entering your parent’s home is vetted, insured, trained, and supervised. This gives long distance families true peace of mind.

Help Your Parent Stay Safe and Independent

If your holiday visit raised concerns, you do not have to navigate this alone. Onyx Home Care provides personalized in home care across Volusia and Flagler counties. Our caregivers support seniors living with dementia, mobility challenges, and chronic conditions so they can remain safely in their homes.

Contact us today to create a care plan that supports your loved one and gives your family peace of mind.