• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE

  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Duke Energy Bill Credit Program
    Hamilton County Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Program
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • EVRTalk virtual reality caregiver training
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Connecting the Dots
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Care Management & Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at COA
    • Open Positions
    • Employee Thoughts
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
    • Volunteers Needed
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    Coronavirus and Vaccine Information
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • Forum on Aging
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Outreach Bureau
    Title VI
  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Duke Energy Bill Credit Program
    Hamilton County Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Program
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • EVRTalk virtual reality caregiver training
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Connecting the Dots
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Care Management & Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at COA
    • Open Positions
    • Employee Thoughts
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
    • Volunteers Needed
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    Coronavirus and Vaccine Information
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • Forum on Aging
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Outreach Bureau
    Title VI
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE
(513) 721-1025
  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Duke Energy Bill Credit Program
    Hamilton County Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Program
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • EVRTalk virtual reality caregiver training
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Connecting the Dots
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Care Management & Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at COA
    • Open Positions
    • Employee Thoughts
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
    • Volunteers Needed
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    Coronavirus and Vaccine Information
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • Forum on Aging
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Outreach Bureau
    Title VI
Council on Aging
DONATE
(513) 721-1025
Thanks for visiting, but before you go...

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at COA and in the fields of aging and disability services:

Sign Up
  • Home
  • Programs & Services
    • Overview
    • Home & Community-based Care Options
      • Elderly Services Program
      • AddnAide
      • PASSPORT
      • Assisted Living Waiver
      • MyCare Ohio
      • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    • Transitional Care
      • FastTrack Home
    • Duke Energy Bill Credit Program
    • Hamilton County Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Program
    • Aging and Disability Resource Center
    • Caregiver Support Program
      • EVRTalk virtual reality caregiver training
      • Working Caregivers
    • Health & Wellness Programs
      • Connecting the Dots
      • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    • Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    • Other Services
  • Find Resources
    • Search for Resources
    • Document Library
      • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers
    • Working with Council on Aging
      • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Overview
    • PASSPORT & Assisted Living
      • Prospective Provider Information
      • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    • Elderly Services Program
      • Current ESP Provider Information
      • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    • Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
      • Information for Current Title III Providers
    • Care Management & Billing
  • About
    • Overview
    • Working at COA
      • Open Positions
      • Employee Thoughts
    • Senior Leadership Team
      • Board & Advisory Councils
    • Advocacy
    • Funding
      • Tax Levies
    • How to Help
      • Donate
      • Volunteers Needed
  • News & Events
    • Overview
    • Coronavirus and Vaccine Information
    • News
    • Newsletters
      • Join our Mailing List
    • Events
      • Forum on Aging
    • Public Meetings
  • Contact
    • Overview
    • Make a Referral
    • Contact Form
    • Service Excellence Awards
    • Communication & Media
    • Outreach Bureau
    • Title VI
Home > News > Home for the holidays?

Home for the holidays?

November 13, 2017

Holiday SeasonWhat to look for with older adult family members

This or any holiday season when gathering with family, take the time to look around and observe older loved ones. Do you notice any changes that indicate they may be struggling?

Has Mom lost weight? Is Dad not getting around as well as he used to? These common but often over-looked signs can be key indicators that Mom and Dad are having trouble staying independent.

Sometimes it’s hard for older loved ones to ask for help, and other times they may not even recognize that they need help. This is why it is important for us to be aware of how well older relatives are aging, and informed about when we should offer help.

Common indicators can be recognized through physical appearance and behavior changes, including:

  • Changes in weight
  • Lack of mobility
  • Unexplained bruising or injuries
  • Forgetfulness and confusion
  • Poor hygiene
  • Changes in mood/depression

If you notice that an aging relative fits one or more of these descriptions, it is important that you address it, especially if you are worried about their safety. You may be able to make a much better evaluation by visiting your loved ones’ home and looking for signs of inadequate living, such as: 

  • Empty refrigerator or spoiled food
  • Stack of unpaid bills
  • New or unexplained dents in their car
  • Un-kept house
  • Obvious dangers
  • Concerns from neighbors

If you see these red flags be sure to talk to others in your family and discuss your concerns. Find out if they have noticed any changes, and listen to their thoughts and opinions. It is important to work together to ensure that senior adults are being well taken care of. 

When you gently approach your loved ones with your concerns, give specific examples. Let them know that they are in control and that you are here to help them make decisions that they are comfortable with. Together you can call their physician, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio or hire an Aging Life Care professional. Offer to help them choose services that they feel they could benefit from, and use the resources you have researched to guide them toward better living and as independently as possible. 

Knowing your loved ones are taken care of is a gift that the whole family can enjoy. So take a moment this busy holiday season and spend time talking with your elderly relatives. Be sure to ask questions, listen when they talk, and observe their well-being, because you never know when someone may be secretly struggling.

 Article contributed by Ann Sutton Burke, MPA, CMC, Advanced Aging Life Care Professional with CareLink and Director of Aging and Caregiver Services at Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area. Ann can be reached at ann@ourcarelink.com or 513-766-3350.

Primary Sidebar

MOST RECENT

You are invited to join us and learn about COA's support for caregivers

Federal government ends SNAP emergency payments

COA joins Hamilton County 513Relief Bus program

Council on Aging Board Member Profile: Kay Bolden

PASSPORT program provides support to keep Mt. Healthy resident in his home

Archives

  • Council on Aging and home52 Terms of Use
  • Links Policy
  • HIPAA
  • Site Map
  • Home52
(513) 721-1025

Copyright © 2023 · Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio. 4601 Malsbary Road | Blue Ash, OH 45242 | Log in

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

  • Council on Aging and home52 Terms of Use
  • Links Policy
  • HIPAA
  • Site Map
  • Home52
This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation, monitor site usage and web traffic, assist with our promotional and marketing efforts, and customize and improve our services and website. For more information about cookies and how we use them please see our Privacy Policy. Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Thanks for visiting, but before you go...

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at COA and in the fields of aging and disability services:

Sign Up