Coming Home for the Holidays?

10 Changes You May Notice in a Loved One

The holidays often bring loved ones together after months apart. For many families, these visits are filled with traditions, conversations, and time spent reconnecting. They can also provide an opportunity to notice changes that may be difficult to recognize during phone calls or video chats.

Seeing changes in someone you love can bring up difficult emotions. It may also raise the question of whether additional home care support would be helpful. That conversation can be sensitive, particularly if your loved one is not ready to accept help.

Rather than looking for reasons to tell your loved one what they should do, use your visit as an opportunity to listen, observe, and understand how things are going.

Here are 10 things you may notice.

1. Changes Around the Home

Unusual clutter, unopened mail, spoiled food, or changes in housekeeping may simply mean your loved one has been busy or has had other priorities. They may also indicate that certain household tasks are becoming less enjoyable or more difficult.

2. Changes in Eating Habits

An empty refrigerator, fewer prepared meals, or changes in eating routines can be worth noticing. Ask your loved one how meal planning and grocery shopping have been going.

3. Changes in Mobility

Pay attention to how comfortably your loved one moves around the home. Difficulty with stairs or getting up from a chair may be worth discussing, especially if they mention feeling less confident.

4. Changes in Personal Care

Changes in clothing, grooming, bathing, or laundry routines may indicate that certain tasks are taking more effort than they once did.

5. Unopened Mail or Missed Appointments

A growing pile of mail, missed appointments, or difficulty keeping up with household responsibilities may suggest that some routines have become overwhelming.

6. Less Time With Others

If your loved one is spending more time alone or participating less in activities they enjoy, ask how they have been feeling about their social routine.

7. Changes in Memory or Routine

Everyone forgets things occasionally. However, noticeable changes in familiar routines or difficulty managing everyday responsibilities may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

8. A Recent Fall or Near Fall

If your loved one mentions a fall or close call, listen carefully. Ask what happened and whether there is anything that could make them feel more comfortable or secure at home. Federal data shows that death rates from unintentional falls have surged dramatically over the last two decades, more than doubling for adults aged 85 and older. [1]

9. Changes in Driving

Your loved one may be driving less because of weather, traffic, or personal preference. If driving has become stressful, transportation support could be one option to explore.

10. Everyday Activities Are Taking More Effort

Cooking, cleaning, shopping, getting dressed, or managing household tasks may take longer than they once did. Ask whether your loved one would appreciate help with any of these activities.

Start With a Conversation, Not a Solution

If you notice several changes, try not to approach your loved one with a list of things they can no longer do. Instead, ask open-ended questions. “How are things going around the house?” or “Is there anything that has become harder lately?” can create a more comfortable conversation.

Your loved one may not be ready for help right away, and that is okay. Sometimes simply opening the conversation can make it easier to revisit later.

When additional support is appropriate, home care can assist with companionship, personal care, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and daily routines.

Home Helpers® Home Care can help families explore options based on their loved one’s preferences and needs, with the goal of supporting independence rather than replacing it.

Trusted care starts with a conversation. Call (800) 990-9750 or schedule your free in-home assessment to discover how Home Helpers can support your family with personalized, dependable care.