Tips for Making Holiday Visits Enjoyable for Seniors and Their Caregivers

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 senior's 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.

If you're a caregiver for a senior or are planning a trip to visit a loved one at their home for the holidays, some extra help can allow them to maintain their favorite traditions. 

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.

New traditions that fit your senior's interests, capabilities, and needs can feel just as special as long-time family traditions. Try to plan activities that people of all ages can enjoy together. Having clear start and end times and accessible steps may help reduce stress for everyone involved.

Consider these modifications as you plan new or revised traditions:

• Add allergy-friendly swaps to family recipes.
• Use jumbo cards or high-contrast puzzles for family games.
• Turn on subtitles and lower the volume during holiday movie time.
• Attend a worship service from home via live or recorded video.
• Pre-cut wrapping paper or use gift bags.
• Prepare medication-safe drinks, such as mocktails.

Holiday gatherings often bring many people into one place, which can compromise safety for senior family members. Before everyone meets, take time to make the space and atmosphere accessible to seniors. Walkways, stairs, and entrances should be well-lit, clear of ice and obstacles, and include handrails whenever possible. You may need to put pets in another room as your loved one moves around the space. 

Also, make the room as comfortable as possible for older loved ones. Have extra throw blankets available if they feel cold, and set out sturdy chairs with good back support. Make sure there's enough lighting in the space for safety, but that you're able to turn off a lamp or two when your loved one wants to settle down for the day. Family members should also try to eliminate as much background noise as possible to make it easier for older adults to engage in conversation. 

When planning a senior-friendly holiday, think about your own needs, too. While prioritizing your senior loved one is admirable, remember that the holidays are also yours to enjoy. A simple plan with a few backup options should help you account for any unexpected changes and help reduce the potential for caregiver burnout. 

Cross off things you'd like to do but may make you feel more stressed. You can also see if anyone else in the family would like to take on those tasks.

Ensure everyone visiting for the holidays is aware of the changing needs of other family members, such as your senior loved one. Send a group email or make phone calls ahead of the get-together to share your plans and tips for how everyone can help, such as being patient during conversations and family games.

Holidays can be an emotional time for seniors and their families. Older adults may feel overstimulated or exhausted during family gatherings and may need to rest or find a quiet place to relax during the celebrations. 

Seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia may feel a sense of grief or loss during the holiday season, which may remind them of how things have changed in recent years. Family members may notice behavioral changes in their senior loved ones that they didn't expect. Patience can help everyone manage these moments. Checking in can give family members the space to talk and the support they need to understand these changes.

Your senior loved one's ability to participate in family holidays is a blessing. Document these moments through pictures, videos, and even journal entries that you can share with family for years to come. 

Make sure to do so in a way that allows you to be fully present in those moments with your loved one. Instead of being the sole person behind the camera, ask everyone to take some photos or videos with their phones throughout the day to share via email or a shared cloud drive later. Or, ask your family if they'd be willing to pool money together to hire a photographer to capture the day.

Holidays can be lonely for seniors in independent living, assisted living, nursing homes, or memory care facilities, but traveling to visit loved ones may be too stressful for many. Making the holidays special for a senior loved at 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.

Activities to enjoy with someone who has Alzheimer's or dementia. (n.d.). Alzheimer's Association | Fritze, Danielle. (2023). Your mental health this holiday and beyond: 4 steps to combat loneliness in seniors. National Council on Aging | Huff, Grace. (2024). Cognitive decline and the holidays: How to support loved ones with dementia. UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases | Joy takes the holidays off for some older people. (2023). Cedars Sinai | Preventing falls at home: Room by room. (2022). National Institute on Aging | Sheridan, Amy. (2025). Dementia-friendly environments – Noise levels. Senior Services | Sleep issues and sundowning. (n.d.). Alzheimer's Association