Medication routines often work because they are attached to the ordinary rhythm of the day. A pill is taken with breakfast. Another comes after dinner. Evening medications happen before bed. The routine itself becomes part of the reminder system.
Holiday gatherings can scramble those cues.
Researchers studying adults age 75 and older found that most had established routines to help them remember medications. When doses were missed, changes in routine, including holidays, were among the common reasons.[1] Another study found that 91% of older adults had built medication-taking into familiar daily events such as meals, waking up, and bedtime.[2] More recent research has reached a similar conclusion, finding that disruptions to established routines are an important reason older adults miss medications.[3]
Holidays Change the Day
Consider how different Thanksgiving or Christmas can look from an ordinary Tuesday.
Breakfast may happen later because family stayed overnight. Lunch disappears altogether. Thanksgiving dinner starts at 2:00 instead of 6:00. Someone else clears the dishes. Grandchildren fill the house. A football game runs long. There is an afternoon nap, followed by dessert, visitors, and a bedtime several hours later than usual.
For someone whose medication schedule is attached to breakfast, dinner, or bedtime, all those changes can matter.
Travel adds another layer. An early departure, meals on the road, an overnight stay, medications packed in a suitcase, and changes in time zones can all interfere with a routine that normally works well.
The goal is not to make the holiday rigid. It is to protect the medication routine while everything else becomes less predictable.
Tips for Staying on Schedule
Make a medication list before the holiday gets busy. Include medication names, doses, and usual times.
Keep familiar cues when possible. If a medication is normally taken with breakfast or at bedtime, preserve that connection even when the rest of the day changes.
Use alarms on unusually busy days. A phone or watch alarm can replace the normal environmental reminder when meals, visitors, and activities are happening at unusual times.
Keep medications where they remain visible and accessible. Moving the pillbox to clear kitchen space for holiday food can unintentionally remove an important reminder.
Assign one person to help when assistance is needed. If several relatives are involved, choose one person to manage medications so there is less uncertainty about whether a dose has already been given.
Write down doses if confusion is possible. A simple checklist can be useful when routines are disrupted or several people are helping.
Bring extra medication when traveling. The CDC recommends carrying enough medication for the planned trip plus extra in case the return home is delayed.[4]
Keep medications with the traveler. During air travel, medications should remain in carry-on luggage rather than checked bags.[4]
Ask before changing schedules across time zones. Some medications can shift easily to local time. Others need more careful timing. The CDC recommends discussing time-zone changes with a clinician or pharmacist before travel.[4]
Do not automatically double a missed dose. Instructions vary among medications. If a dose is missed and the correct next step is unclear, check the medication instructions or contact a pharmacist or healthcare professional.[5]
International Travel Requires Extra Planning
Travel outside the United States adds additional concerns.
The CDC recommends keeping medications in their original labeled containers during international travel. Some countries restrict medications that are routinely prescribed in the United States, so travelers should check destination requirements before leaving.[6] People with complex medical conditions may also benefit from carrying a current medication list and, when appropriate, a letter from their healthcare professional describing medical conditions and prescriptions.[4]
Protect the Routine, Enjoy the Holiday
Holiday gatherings are supposed to feel different from ordinary life. That is part of the fun. For someone taking several medications, however, the ordinary routine may be doing more work than anyone realizes. A few simple safeguards can help. Keep medications visible, preserve familiar cues where possible, use reminders when the schedule changes, and make sure everyone helping knows who is responsible.
For patients receiving home health care, medication management can also be discussed with the nurse before holiday visits or travel. A clinician familiar with the patient’s regimen can help identify medications that require especially careful timing.
The holidays can interrupt the schedule without interrupting successful medication adherence.
REFERENCES
Tordoff J, Simonsen K, Thomson WM, Norris PT. Medicine-taking practices in community-dwelling people aged ≥75 years in New Zealand. Age Ageing. 2010;39(5):574-580.
Sanders MJ, Van Oss T. Using daily routines to promote medication adherence in older adults. Am J Occup Ther. 2013;67(1):91-99.
O’Conor R, Wolf MS, Smith SG, et al. The roles of busyness and daily routine in medication management behaviors among older adults. J Appl Gerontol. 2023;42(2):273-281.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Travelers with chronic illnesses. CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel, 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travelers-with-additional-considerations/travelers-with-chronic-illnesses.html
National Library of Medicine. Keeping your medicines organized. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000600.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traveling with prohibited or restricted medications. CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel, 2026. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/travelers-with-additional-considerations/traveling-with-prohibited-or-restricted-medications.html
