Senior Living News, December 2025

If you’re heading home to visit an aging parent or loved one for the holidays, planning is critical to help them feel connected and included. Celebrations evolve as families age, and it may be time to revise old traditions or simplify schedules to ensure older loved ones can enjoy the celebrations as much as everyone else. Most importantly, communication with other family members can set clear expectations for accommodating a your loved ones’ needs. Navigating the holidays with a senior loved one can become more challenging each year, especially if they show signs of dementia. The holidays can stir up feelings of loneliness for many seniors. Others may feel limited about what they can do physically around the holidays, which can also affect their mental health. Enter your family get-together with a solid plan that you can adjust as needed for your loved one. Speak with them about the traditions they want to preserve and the activities they prefer to change or forgo. Ask about their energy levels and any physical limitations to plan activities accordingly.
Consider the needs of young children or aging parents who will participate in holiday activities, too. For example, bedtimes, dietary restrictions, medication schedules, and bathroom accessibility should all be included in your plan.
Elderly loved ones, especially, may require more breaks, which can also work as naptime for small children. Scheduling regular breaks can help everyone feel refreshed, especially for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia who experience sundowning, which can cause late-day confusion, anxiety, or aggression.
Planning holiday activities and events that your loved one has always enjoyed can help them feel included, curb loneliness, and offer a sense of comfort. Traditions also introduce familiar sights, smells, and feelings to seniors with memory loss or dementia, which may help them feel more engaged in activities.
Choose traditions your loved one cares about, such as baking or taking family photos together. Revise them as needed to simplify steps or fit better with your loved one’s current schedule. For example, you might swap an all-day cookie bake for decorating a batch of cookies at the table after a midday nap. Holidays can be lonely for seniors and traveling to visit loved ones may be too stressful for many. Making the holidays special for a senior loved at home or in their senior living home is meaningful, whether you’re a caregiver or a family member. Create a thoughtful, accessible atmosphere and simple, inclusive activities to make seniors feel connected and valued.
Ultimately, Holidays can be lonely for seniors, just as they can be for any of us; however, when we are mindful of traditions, aware of the accommodations and emotions that come with big holidays, we can