The holiday season brings excitement, family gatherings, and travel, but for residents in long-term care settings, these changes can also introduce medication risks if not planned carefully. Even a short overnight visit or weekend trip can impact medication schedules, storage conditions, and record accuracy.

Planning ahead helps prevent missed doses, lost medications, or unnecessary stress for families and care teams.

Before a resident leaves for a visit, it is important to review all active medications and upcoming refill needs. Homes should verify that medication orders are current and that families have enough supply for the full length of the visit. If travel will extend beyond the usual cycle, additional quantities may be needed to avoid gaps.

Storage is another key consideration. Some medications are sensitive to temperature and should never be left in a car or exposed to extreme cold or heat. Families should be reminded to keep medications in a secure, temperature-controlled place during travel.

While away, keeping medications in one consistent location reduces the chance of misplaced packaging or missed doses. Sticking as closely as possible to the usual administration schedule also helps maintain therapeutic stability.

When residents return, medications should be reconciled against the MARs to confirm that everything is accounted for. If routines, sleep, appetite, or behavior changed during the visit, noting those patterns allows direct support staff to monitor trends.

With thoughtful planning, holiday visits can be both joyful and safe, without disrupting the medication routines that support residents’ health.