Holiday Warning Signs to Watch with Older Adults
Wed Nov 26 2025
If you’re planning to see loved ones during the holidays, you need to know these 6 warning signs they need more help.
Physical Appearance
Pay specific attention to their physical appearance, like weight loss or gain and changes with things like their hair or clothes.
Home Environment
Notice if their house is more cluttered than usual or if they’ve started keeping things in different places that are either strange or more convenient to where they spend most of their time.
Nutrition
Check out the food your loved one has in the fridge, freezer, and pantry and look at things like expiration dates and the types of foods they have.
Medication Management
Look at your loved one’s pill organizer (if they have one) and look at their medications to see if things are expired or are being taken as prescribed.
Mobility
Watch your loved one walk around to see if they are furniture walking or if there are tripping hazards.
Cognitive Changes
Monitor if your loved one seems to have changes in personality, increased forgetfulness or confusion, or is more withdrawn than you would expect.
Hear from experts with The Ohio Masonic Communities to learn not only the warning signs to watch for, but what to do if you notice them. Head into the holiday season empowered to recognize your loved ones who need help and equipped with the tools you need to have tough, open conversations with the whole family.
If you want help recognizing these six warning signs in a loved one, or are looking for support as you navigate the next steps of having conversations and making decisions, reach out to us. The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center is here to offer support to older adults and their loved ones. Give them a call at 1-877-881-1623 or visit https://omcresourcecenter.org/.
The Ohio Masonic Communities' Here to Help guides cover everything from what Alzheimer's is to what senior living community and contract types exist and more. You can access your free copy of the guides by visiting omcoh.org/sltguide.
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If you’re planning to see loved ones during the holidays, you need to know these 6 warning signs they need more help. Physical Appearance Pay specific attention to their physical appearance, like weight loss or gain and changes with things like their hair or clothes. Home Environment Notice if their house is more cluttered than usual or if they’ve started keeping things in different places that are either strange or more convenient to where they spend most of their time. Nutrition Check out the food your loved one has in the fridge, freezer, and pantry and look at things like expiration dates and the types of foods they have. Medication Management Look at your loved one’s pill organizer (if they have one) and look at their medications to see if things are expired or are being taken as prescribed. Mobility Watch your loved one walk around to see if they are furniture walking or if there are tripping hazards. Cognitive Changes Monitor if your loved one seems to have changes in personality, increased forgetfulness or confusion, or is more withdrawn than you would expect. Hear from experts with The Ohio Masonic Communities to learn not only the warning signs to watch for, but what to do if you notice them. Head into the holiday season empowered to recognize your loved ones who need help and equipped with the tools you need to have tough, open conversations with the whole family. If you want help recognizing these six warning signs in a loved one, or are looking for support as you navigate the next steps of having conversations and making decisions, reach out to us. The Ohio Masonic Communities Resource Center is here to offer support to older adults and their loved ones. Give them a call at 1-877-881-1623 or visit https://omcresourcecenter.org/. The Ohio Masonic Communities' Here to Help guides cover everything from what Alzheimer's is to what senior living community and contract types exist and more. You can access your free copy of the guides by visiting omcoh.org/sltguide.