‘TIS the season
The beginning of the holiday season is an exciting time where we can focus on reconnecting with family and loved ones to share in celebrating the holidays. For many, it is an important time for travel preparations. Here at Sentry Aging, we want to ensure our readers are ready by providing some expert tips for navigating this time of year in regards to our mobility, meals, communication, and cognitive skills. To echo our message from blogs past, proper awareness and planning ahead is the key to aging well, especially during the holiday season, when our environment and routines may change. So how do we get to this gathering of our loved ones, and more importantly, successfully function inside of that home?
Let’s consider the following questions:
Who is going to transport and assist as a designated person during the event?
What kind of vehicle will be easiest to get in and out of?
What device will be needed to get around?
What is the safest way to enter/exit the home?
What bathroom can be accessed safely?
How do we help someone who has challenges with eating and drinking?
How can we improve our communication skills with someone who has a hearing or language impairment?
What can we do to support those with dementia during this time?
Designated Person
It is a good idea to have someone who is physically capable to assist with getting in/out of the car, navigating stairs, and general transfers. This person should feel comfortable supporting balance and attending to the needs of the individual.
When assisting someone to get in and out of a chair, on and off a toilet, or off the couch, there are things we need to consider such as hand placement and communication.
Each individual requires a different amount of assistance in this situation but there are some key considerations to keep in mind.
Hand placement– do not pull under someone's arms to help them stand
Communicate– designate a strategy to stand up on the count of 3
Body mechanics– bend at the knees and reduce lifting with only the upper body to protect your back and reduce twisting
Please visit our Websites tab listed under Resources to find video demonstrations for common transfers!
Transportation & Mobility
How tall is the person who may need some help?
If they are shorter, a standard car may be more appropriate than an SUV.
If they are tall, a low-seated car would be difficult to get out of. Consider how well they get up from a low chair or couch.
For added support, we highly recommend the use of the car handle attachment, listed on our resource page. Each automobile has a latch in the doorframe that allows you to hook in this simple attachment securely.
What mobility device should we use?
One piece that must be considered in the physical aspect of mobility is what is the best device to bring. For some, they are used to having hardwood or tile floors in their home, while others are used to carpet. These surface types should not go unnoticed in someone's normal routine. If they use a walker in the home regularly, then that is a must to have on hand.
If someone alternates between a walker and a cane, it is recommended to bring both.
There are also instances where utilization of a transport wheelchair may be the safest option and allow others to help them get around the home.
Keep in mind to have clear, well-lit pathways throughout the home for optimal safety!
How do we address stairs at the entrance to a home?
If someone has the ability to use two handrails, there tends to be more security and confidence in this. However, a cane + handrail can also be helpful
If they have a “weak” side, they will want to go up the stairs with the stronger leg. For example, a painful right knee would not be the leading leg when going up, the left leg would.
When going down the stairs, it is recommended to go down with the weaker leg. To consider the above example, the person would use their right painful leg to go down the steps first.
If the home does not have handrails to enter the home, you may require several people to carry the person indoors via wheelchair. Please refer to the video demonstrations in our resource section for details on this option.
Much like in life, we recommend one step at a time!
Bathroom Access
Bathroom setups are tricky - powder rooms are often small and narrow. This may lead to the need for additional assistance, and having enough space to safely use the restroom is a key consideration when planning a visit.
Using the restroom at home before visiting family is a number-one rule.
If experiencing incontinence, ensure adequate supplies are packed/prepared, such as briefs, pads, a change of clothes, etc.
If the bathroom is too narrow for a walker, remember to bring a cane for support.
If visits are regular, you may want to consider having a grab bar installed to assist in the standing process. A less permanent option is an over-the-toilet commode—also listed on our resource page. This option can then be removed and stored between visits.
Mealtime Considerations
One of the most lovely things about the holidays is partaking in the fantastic food made with loving hands. Enjoying meals together is a special time to bond and celebrate, a time of connection and sharing with one another. In regards to the senior population, like most things now, tasks such as eating may require additional considerations to ensure food can be enjoyed safely. Food texture and modification is important – Textures that are hard, dry, and/or chewy tend to be accompanied with an increased difficulty consuming and a higher risk of choking. Prior to enjoying your meal, we recommend taking a moment to consider the following:
Precut meats and larger food items to appropriate, small bites prior to eating
Request extra sauce or gravy to help moisten the food
Consider opting for softer options provided vs. dry/hard items
If you wear dentures, ensure they fit properly, are clean, and have proper adhesion methods to get the best use of them
Be intentional to take small, single bites of food and small, single sips of drinks vs. consecutive bites/drinks of various sizes
Ensure you have a drink accompanied with food to improve swallow function by lubricating the mechanism – Look to alternate solids/liquids to assist with passage
Don’t talk while eating (our parents didn’t just say this for etiquette reasons) – Talking opens our airway, which leads to a higher risk of aspirating our food
Meaningful Communication
The holidays are about connection, and connection is communication. There are a few easy things we can do to support communication skills during this vibrant time of year.
If you utilize hearing aides, ensure they are properly tuned and fully charged before events so they are in working order to capture important, meaningful conversations.
Holiday gatherings tend to be accompanied by chatter and music – this background noise can make hearing more difficult as well as our word retrieval skills in conversations. To improve effective hearing, we’d recommend informing family members of hearing loss to increase their awareness (improving their articulation/volume/use of gestures) and moving to a quieter space when talking.
In regard to word retrieval, it can be difficult to focus on organizing thoughts with increased environmental distractions. We’d recommend practicing communication breakdown strategies to assist during these frustrating moments
If there are specific questions you have for a loved one or information that you would like to share with others, consider writing these down and bringing them to the event to support thought organization, word retrieval, and recall
Consider family conversation cards (see our product page). They are a fantastic way to encourage intergenerational conversation and bonding
Considerations for Those Experiencing Dementia
For those with loved ones experiencing dementia or if we ourselves are having changes to our memory skills, the holidays can present a challenge with changes to environments, routines, and overall stimulation. A few helpful tips to support:
Make a family ‘cheat sheet’ prior to important events – These can include pictures of loved ones, their names, relation, and any important information. This will increase ability to reminisce and connect during gatherings as well as reduce potential stress.
Consider writing down the day’s activities as a clear schedule to improve comprehension of the situation, location, and events
Reminiscing cards are a great way to learn more about our loved ones and prompt for storytelling (See product page for example)
For those experiencing more advanced forms of dementia, we recommend purchasing an Angel Sense Watch. This amazing tool allows for live tracking and 2 way calls to assure peace of mind when traveling to unfamiliar spaces to prioritize safety. This is also located on the product page.
Prior to potentially leaving the home for an extended period of time, prepare/pack medications needed in advance and provide reminders to take as prescribed - This is easy to forget in a new setting with distractions.
The idea of having a designated person returns here in regards to having someone focusing on supervision and support throughout the event.
Final Thoughts
It may not be the first thought on our minds when planning for a holiday dinner, but seeking support from a therapist (physical/speech/occupational therapist) for individualized strategies is a common practice in the therapy world. Conducting an evaluation and developing a plan for transfers, mobility, environmental navigation, and cognitive-communication is exactly what we do! A physical therapist would assess strength to give feedback on appropriate techniques to successfully navigate those stairs or safely get in/out of a vehicle as well as train designated loved ones on methods to support mobility. An occupational therapist can support functional transfers and environmental modifications, and a speech therapist can provide cognitive-communication support through education in compensatory strategies and adaptations.
Our message may be redundant but it's true - Preparation is everything. Take the time to make a plan, communicate with one another, and be proactive - not reactive. This will lead to inclusive, meaningful holiday events that can be enjoyed to their fullest. We wish all of our readers a wonderful and safe holiday season!
Thoughtfully written by your Sentry Aging founders — Kayla Fluder & Dina Holland
“The joy of brightening others’ lives becomes for us the magic of the holidays. ”