• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • 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
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    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
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    Title VI
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • 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
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    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
      • home52 Transportation
    • Transitional Care
      • FastTrack Home
    • Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    • Aging and Disability Resource Center
    • Caregiver Support Program
      • Working Caregivers
    • Health & Wellness Programs
      • Health & Wellness Workshops
      • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    • Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    • Other Services
  • Find Resources
    • Search for Resources
    • Ohio Homestead Exemption
    • COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    • Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    • Document Library
      • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers
    • Working with Council on Aging
      • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
      • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    • Overview
    • PASSPORT & Assisted Living
      • Prospective Provider Information
      • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    • Elderly Services Program
      • Current ESP Provider Information
    • Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
      • Information for Current Title III Providers
    • Service Provider Trainings
    • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    • Billing
  • About
    • Overview
    • Working at Council on Aging
      • Open Positions
      • Why Work at COA?
      • Emerging Professionals Program
    • Senior Leadership Team
      • Board & Advisory Councils
    • Advocacy
    • Funding
      • Tax Levies
    • How to Help
      • Donate
  • News & Events
    • Overview
    • News
    • Newsletters
      • Join our Mailing List
    • Events
      • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
      • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
      • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    • Public Meetings
  • Contact
    • Overview
    • Make a Referral
    • Contact Form
    • Service Excellence Awards
    • Communication & Media
    • Community Outreach
    • Title VI
Home > News > Holiday visits with older loved ones often lead to search for help

Holiday visits with older loved ones often lead to search for help

December 29, 2022

The holiday season offers an opportunity to visit with parents, grandparents and other older relatives we may not have seen in awhile. For some, the 2022 holiday season may be the first opportunity for in-person visits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These holiday visits are not only a time for happy reunions, they are also an opportunity to look for changes in your older loved one that may indicate a need for programs or services to help them continue to live safely in their home.

In fact, January is one of the busiest times of year for Council on Aging’s Aging and Disability Resource Center – our call center. This is because family members who’ve spent time visiting with older relatives over the holidays noticed changes or other issues that raised concerns. Family members call Council on Aging to be connected to the wide variety of programs, services and other resources available to older adults and caregivers in southwestern Ohio.

Common concerns mentioned during these calls include weight loss, mobility problems, changes to housekeeping and personal care habits, and more. These common but often over-looked signs can be key indicators that an older loved one is having trouble staying independent.

Things to look out for may include:

  • Changes in weight
  • Lack of mobility
  • Unexplained bruising or injuries
  • Forgetfulness and confusion
  • Poor hygiene
  • Changes in mood/depression
  • Empty refrigerator or spoiled food
  • Stack of unpaid bills
  • New or unexplained dents in their car
  • Un-kept house
  • Concerns from neighbors or friends

Sometimes it’s hard for older loved ones to ask for help – they may not recognize the need for help, or they may be concerned that asking for help could result in a loss of independence. This is why it is important to be aware of how well older relatives are aging, and to be informed about when we should offer help.

Consider these questions during and after your visit:

  • Does your loved one require help with chores or housekeeping, bathing, dressing, shopping and meal preparation, managing money, transportation or medications?
  • Are they isolated? How often do they socialize with others?
  • If living with another, are they dependent on that person for care? Is that person an appropriate caregiver? Does the caregiver understand your loved-one’s medical conditions?
  • Are there warning signs of self-neglect, or abuse, or neglect by others (see below).

If you have concerns about your loved one’s health and safety, schedule some private time with them and other family members to discuss any concerns and future planning needs. When you mention your concerns, offer specific examples of what you noticed or observed during your visit.

Making your loved one feel supported and in control will result in a better outcome for everyone. Discuss what help they might need to remain independent and then work together to identify available resources. Allow time for them to express anxieties and needs. You can decide together what needs to be done and who can help. This type of partnership can help prevent serious accidents and future health complications, and it can also prolong a person’s independence.

Your Area Agency on Aging can connect you, your family and your older loved one to information and resources that promote safety and independence and improve quality of life. Council on Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. Contact Council on Aging at help4seniors.org or (513) 721-1025. To find an Area Agency on Aging in another part of Ohio or the U.S., click here.


Warning Signs of Abuse and Neglect

SELF-NEGLECT
If the older adult lives alone and does not have anyone providing assistance, self-neglect may become an issue. Some things to look for include:

  • confusion
  • no longer able to handle meal preparation, bathing, bill paying, etc.
  • depression
  • alcohol or drug abuse
  • frequent falls
  • appears undernourished, dehydrated, under-medicated, or is not getting care for problems with eyesight, hearing, dental problems, incontinence, etc.

NEGLECT OR ABUSE BY OTHERS
If the older adult lives with others or has someone coming in to help, neglect or abuse may become an issue. Some things to look for include:

  • presence of “new best friend” who is willing to care for the older adult for little or no cost
  • recent changes in banking or spending patterns
  • older adult is isolated from friends and family
  • caregiver has problems with drugs, alcohol, anger and/or emotional instability
  • caregiver is financially dependent on the older person
  • family pet seems neglected or abused
  • an abundance of mail and/or phone solicitations for money (“You’re a winner!”)
  • older adult seems afraid of the caregiver
  • older adult has unexplained bruises, cuts, etc.
  • older adult has “bed sores” (pressure sores from lying in one place for too long)
  • older adult appears dirty, undernourished, dehydrated, over- or under-medicated, or is not receiving needed care for problems with eyesight, hearing, dental issues, incontinence

What should you do?

  • If you suspect your older loved one is at risk and he/she lives in the community, call your local Adult Protective Services office. If the person lives in a licensed facility, call the local Long-term Care Ombudsman. You can find the numbers for your state and other helpful resources through the Eldercare Locator.
  • Introduce yourself to responsible neighbors and friends. Give them your address and phone numbers in case of an emergency.
  • Ask your older loved ones directly if they are afraid of anyone, if anyone is taking things without their permission; if anyone is asking them to do things they are not comfortable with, or if anyone is humiliating them. These screening questions may reveal hidden anxieties caused by abuse or neglect.
  • If you think your loved one needs help in order to continue living independently, contact the local Area Agency on Aging to learn about local in-home care options and other community resources. In Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties, Council on Aging is the state-designated Area Agency on Aging. You can make an online referral or call us at (513) 721-1025.

Sources and Related Information: 

National Center on Elder Abuse

Home for the Holidays November 2017

Primary Sidebar

MOST RECENT

COA President’s Award presented to tireless advocate for older adults

Council on Aging Board Member Profile: Jane Ripberger

Take a hike this summer with Buckeye Trail Anywhere - even from your couch!

Craig joins Council on Aging as Chief Information Security Officer

Dr. Karen Jones Bankston named chair of Council on Aging’s board of trustees

Archives

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

Copyright © 2025 · Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio. 4601 Malsbary Road | Blue Ash, OH 45242 | Log in

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • 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