For many adult children, Thanksgiving can be their first chance in months to see how their aging parent is truly doing from day to day. Small changes in health, cognition, and ability are easy to miss over the phone or during quick visits, which is why having those several unhurried days together during the holiday can make things much clearer.
If you’re spending Thanksgiving with your aging parent or loved one this year, it can be a great opportunity to check in, notice any physical or cognitive changes, and later reflect on whether some extra support at home could make their daily life easier and safer.
At Homewatch CareGivers of Longmont, we regularly help families navigate the often emotionally complex process of determining whether home caregiving is the right option for their loved one. Here’s how you can approach your Thanksgiving visit with your loved one and begin a calm, tactful conversation about home care once the leftovers are gone.
What to pay attention to during your Thanksgiving visit
You don’t need to inspect, evaluate, or “check up on” on your parent: just spend time with them and notice how they move through their usual routines.
For example, notice whether they seem steady on their feet while moving around the kitchen. Do they seem more tired than usual? Are they avoiding the stairs or struggling to lift or carry items they once handled easily? You might also see unopened mail, expired food, or laundry piling up.
More subtle changes might appear during social gatherings: your parent may seem more withdrawn or confused by conversations, or they may repeat questions or lose track of details.
Taken together, these observations can point to areas where in-home care or some additional support could improve your loved one’s safety and comfort.
After the holiday: How to start the home care conversation
Thanksgiving isn’t the best moment for an in-depth home-care discussion. You want your parent to enjoy the celebration, not feel anxious or caught off guard. A few days after Thanksgiving, though, try reaching out again. Here are a few possible conversation openers:
- “How have things been going since we saw you at Thanksgiving? I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you’ve been feeling.”
- “I noticed you seemed more tired than usual during our visit. How are your energy levels?”
- “I get worried when I see that things seem harder for you than they used to be. I just want you to feel safe and supported.”
Many older adults feel more comfortable when home care is framed as support, not as losing their independence, so these types of strategic openers can help keep the conversation collaborative rather than critical.
What level of support does my parent need?
Homewatch CareGivers of Longmont offers free in-home care consultations to help families determine what kind of home assistance would be helpful for their loved one. During this visit, we look at:
- Your parent or loved one’s daily routines
- Safety and mobility considerations
- Nutrition and medication needs
- Household safety and navigability
- Cognitive or memory-related concerns
- Their personal preferences
Our care managers’ goal during the conversation is to help you gain clarity and peace of mind so you have a clear plan of action after the holiday.
After the consultation: How Homewatch CareGivers supports families
If your parent decides to give home care a try, we want their experience (and yours) to be positive from the very beginning. That’s why our care managers carefully match your parent with one of our professionally trained, background-checked caregivers whose personality, skills, and style of communication fit their needs. Our team can help with:
- Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming)
- Mobility and fall prevention
- Medication reminders
- Meal preparation
- Transportation and errands
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Companionship and social engagement
Care can be as minimal or as extensive as your loved one needs, from our minimum commitment of eight hours per week to 24/7 home care. Your care manager will also make sure to stay connected through regular check-ins and quarterly Quality Assurance visits.
Noticing changes in your parent over Thanksgiving can be the first step toward ensuring they continue to live independently and safely. If you’re wondering whether your parent might benefit from in-home care, such as elderly companion care, dementia care, Parkinson’s care, or 24 hour home care, our team is here to help. Call Homewatch CareGivers of Longmont at (303) 444-1133 to schedule your free in-home consultation.