It may be that you don't see relatives very often - 38 percent of those with an older relative (aged 65+) see them every three months or less[1], but Christmas is often a time when families do come together and therefore a time when you may notice some of the signs covered in The I-CARE Checklist:
I will check Clothing, Appetite, Rings, Energy levels.
CLOTHING - weight loss can be a sign of malnutrition, so look at clothing. Is it loose, ill-fitting? This could be a sign your relative is not eating enough.
APPETITE- again loss of appetite is key. There will be bundles of food on the Christmas table, but are they eating? Has their appetite shrunk? With weight loss, dentures can become loose and ill-fitting making it harder to eat, so watch out for this too.
RINGS - jewellery can often become ill-fitting with weight loss, so keep an eye on items such as wedding rings that people may have worn for years suddenly becoming loose.
ENERGY - with lack of food, reduced appetite and weight loss can also come a lack of energy. Does your relative seem more lethargic or struggle to keep up in a way they never used to?