Home Again for the Holidays. Pay Attention to Aging this Holiday Season
As the calendar turns to the final months of the year, a familiar festive buzz fills the air across the nation. The holiday season is unfolding its magic, with Christmas lights illuminating streets, festive music ringing in shops, and families eagerly anticipating long-awaited reunions. Advertisements glitter with holiday cheer, marking the arrival of the 2024 holiday season—a celebration promising connection and joy.
This year's festivities build on the return to normalcy experienced in recent years, offering a holiday season free from many of the constraints that marked the COVID-19 era. Families are sketching out plans for gatherings, excited to make up for lost time and rekindle traditions. While COVID-19 now feels like a distant memory, some households are still taking precautions, ensuring the season is as safe as it is merry.
Travel Trends in 2024: A Busy Season for Airports and Highways
The 2024 holiday season is expected to be one of the busiest in recent memory for travel, with nearly half of Americans planning to hit the road or take to the skies. According to Deloitte's 2024 holiday travel survey, 49% of Americans intend to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, reflecting a surge in enthusiasm compared to previous years. The average number of trips is also on the rise, with more people planning vacations lasting a week or longer.
While some concerns about flight delays and cancellations persist, they are less of a deterrent this year. Many travelers are turning to strategies like flexible booking policies and travel insurance to mitigate potential disruptions.
The United States Department of Transportation notes that Thanksgiving remains the most traveled holiday of the season, with a 54% increase in trips over the weekend compared to non-holiday periods. Meanwhile, Christmas and New Year's travel sees a 23% uptick, as families prioritize being together during this special time.
Whether you're traveling or welcoming loved ones into your home, the holidays are a time to focus on family—especially older family members you may not have seen in a while.
Reunions That Bring Joy—and Reflection
Holiday gatherings are about more than food, gifts, and traditions—they're about reconnecting with family and creating cherished memories. The season offers a rare opportunity to pause the hustle of everyday life and spend quality time with loved ones. For many, these moments feel even more precious after the isolation and uncertainty of recent years.
However, these joyful reunions can also bring moments of reflection. For some, seeing a grandparent, parent, or distant relative after a long absence reveals the effects of aging in ways that may not have been apparent during phone calls or video chats. A parent who once moved with ease may now need assistance, or a grandparent's memory may seem less sharp than before.
While sometimes startling, these realizations can serve as a reminder of life's fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing our time with our family members. They also highlight the need to plan for the future—both for ourselves and for those we love.
The Holidays: A Time to Consider Aging and Long-Term Care
As the holidays bring families closer, they also create an opportunity to reflect on the realities of aging. Conversations about health, independence, and long-term care can be difficult but are essential to ensuring that loved ones are supported as their needs change.
November is designated as Long-Term Care Awareness Month, aligning with the season when families will most likely come together. For many, the holidays become a natural time to discuss plans for the future because everyone is together—whether it's exploring in-home care options, considering assisted living facilities, or learning more about the benefits of Long-Term Care Insurance.
Long-Term Care Insurance is especially important for those who want to maintain independence as they age. These policies provide financial support for in-home care, assisted living, or nursing homes, allowing individuals to receive the care they need without placing undue strain on their families. For pet owners, this is particularly vital, as it can mean staying in an environment where they can continue to care for and enjoy the companionship of their beloved animals.
Making the Most of the Holiday Season
The 2024 holiday season is more than an opportunity to celebrate—it's a chance to connect, reflect, and plan. As you gather with family and loved ones, take a moment to appreciate the time you have together. If the effects of aging are more noticeable this year, consider it a gentle nudge to start discussions about the future.
Though not always easy, these conversations can lead to decisions that ensure your family members receive the care and support they need in the years to come. Whether it's arranging for long-term care, exploring new living arrangements, or simply spending more quality time together, the holidays offer the perfect backdrop for building stronger connections and creating lasting memories.
So, as the lights twinkle and the festive spirit fills the air, let this season remind you of what matters most: the people you love and the moments you share.
Holidays Can Bring Depression
However, holidays can cause times of sadness, possibly leading to depression. It is not the holiday itself that can lead to depression. What makes people sad are memories of how people were when they were younger. The shock of aging can be much bigger if you have not seen loved ones recently in person.
Pay Attention
But this may be the first time we have seen some older family members in a while. Be sure to take proper flu and COVID-19 precautions but watch for those older loved ones. Pay close attention to help avoid a future family crisis. Look for health changes, mobility problems, and memory issues you may notice as you interact with your family. Stay on top of these problems before they become a family crisis.
There are several reasons to pay special attention to older family members when you see them this holiday season. Notice if they are unable to participate in celebrations as they once did. Are they having mobility or balance problems? What about confusion or memory problems?
Declining health could be impacting their ability to do normal living activities, endangering them and affecting their independence. Do they seem forgetful?
If you see this decline with older loved ones, be sure they get the attention and care they need. Watch them interact in their environment and see if they have started to lose their independence. Often they will deny having any problems but let your eyes be your judge.
If you have older family members who appear to need help, a family discussion can lead to some care plan that will maintain their health and safety and preserve their independence for as long as possible.
Things to Look For
Many experts say it's not unusual to spot personality or behavior changes that go unnoticed by those who see your loved one regularly. It is essential to speak up about these issues with other family members.
Some of the items to look for include:
- Forgetfulness
- Confusion
- Neglect of physical appearance or basic hygiene
- Neglect of regular medical needs
- Trouble performing routine household tasks and activities
- Personality changes
- Wobbliness, clumsiness, or history of falls
- Lack of or delayed response to sudden sounds or loud noises
- Wearing inappropriate clothing
- Difficulty answering simple questions
- Repeating the same story over and over again
If you observe these issues in a loved one, the family should determine how advanced the problem may be. Decide if the problem impacts their health and well-being and whether any financial issues are being appropriately addressed.
Your estate or elder law attorney will help prepare key documents such as powers of attorneys and healthcare directives. A good estate lawyer can also help the family feel confident that they are making the best possible decisions for future financial security and peace of mind during an otherwise challenging time.
Kristina R. Hess, a San Diego estate planning attorney.
Family members should see if the loved one has Long-Term Care Insurance, a will and power-of-attorney, and other documents which will protect them and the family.
If they own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, get free - no-obligation help with making a claim. LTC NEWS has combined efforts with Amada Senior Care, a leading in-home health care agency with locations throughout the country, to help you process a claim from any LTC Insurance policy.
There is no cost or obligation for this service - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim.
Even if they do not own a policy, help with a proper plan of care and finding quality caregivers and facilities are available.
Finding quality care can make all the difference in maintaining a better quality of life. The LTC NEWS Caregiver Directory is an excellent resource where you can find the most comprehensive directory of all types of long-term care services no matter where your loved one lives - Long-Term Care Services Directory | Find Care Near You.
Because of longevity, it is more vital than ever for families to address critical issues, including long-term care planning. Long-Term Care Insurance has become an essential part of retirement planning. Over 14.1 billion dollars in Long-Term Care Insurance benefits were paid in 2024 alone. Jesse Slome of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance says that millions of people have LTC Insurance in force, but family members and friends often have no clue.
I often refer to it as the 'silent purchase' because few aging parents tell their adult child they have this protection in place.
Declining health and aging are significant reasons why the purchase of Long-Term Care Insurance. It may be too late for an older family member to purchase a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. Pre-existing health conditions and age may prevent them from obtaining coverage. However, people generally get coverage in their 40s and 50s when premiums are much lower and health is usually better, although if you have fairly good health, you can find options in your 60s and beyond.
Matt McCann, a leading specialist in long-term care planning, says LTC Insurance has become a vital part of an overall retirement plan.
People today understand the physical, emotional, and financial burdens that long-term health care can have on a family. Most of the people I speak with are ages 45 to 60 and have lived through an extended care event of a parent, grandparent, friend, neighbor even a co-worker. Since so many people have personal experience, they know they must address the issue before retiring.
There are several resources for consumers to help them educate themselves on Long-Term Care planning.
This website, www.ltcnews.com, has numerous resources and articles.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has a website devoted to this issue: www.longtermcare.acl.gov. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has an entire section on its website dedicated to long-term care:www.naic.org.
Plus, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance has informative information on its website - www.aaltci.org.
U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., says the issue of aging is a critical public issue.
All of us are aging no matter what age we are at, to be clear.
Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., said he talked with his parents about aging and their future needs.
The conversations we have had is how they can stay healthy and independent as they get older recognizing they want to be part of their children's lives but they don't want to be dependent on their kids for everything.
Don't forget those older family members who may live in a long-term care facility. While they may not be able to join the rest of the family at holiday celebrations, you should visit them if the facility allows it and you have been vaccinated.
Family visits during the holidays can improve life for older adults in care facilities. Barbara Dunn Swanson, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, suggests planning ahead to make the most of these visits.
Read her hints here: Plan for Holiday Visits with Older Adults.
Does Your Retirement Plan Consider Long-Term Health Care?
Pause for a moment to think about your plans for the later years of your life. Aging is a gradual process that often sneaks up on us, bringing along chronic health issues and other challenges associated with getting older. These changes can affect our health, body, and mind, potentially leading to the need for assistance with daily living activities or supervision due to conditions like dementia.
To prepare for the potential costs and challenges of aging, consider including an affordable Long-Term Care Insurance policy in your retirement planning. This can ensure you have access to quality care in your preferred setting, help protect your savings from the escalating costs of care services, and relieve your loved ones from the role of being your primary caregiver.
Aging will inevitably affect you and your family. A well-thought-out retirement plan that includes Long-Term Care Insurance can protect your future retirement income and assets, and reduce the stress on your family in the future.
Use this holiday season as an opportunity to discuss and plan for these important issues. Avoid waiting until a crisis arises. It's important to remember that caregiving is a demanding task for family members, and professional care is costly and only increases in expense due to higher demand and labor costs.
The holiday period is an ideal time to begin your online research about future aging and long-term care needs. By planning ahead, you can alleviate the pressure and burden on your family regarding your future care.
Enjoy your holiday celebrations while also laying the groundwork for a successful and healthy future.