5 Health and Safety Tips for Seniors During Winter

The cold winter months aren’t easy for everyone. The chilling temperatures, snowstorms, and gloomy weather can negatively impact your mental health and make it challenging to get things done throughout the day. This is especially true for seniors that are living alone. During winter, it can be hard to leave the house, leaving seniors feeling isolated and lonely. Seniors are also at higher risk of health problems and injuries related to the winter weather.

The best way to combat these winter weather challenges is with precaution and prevention.

We’re here to walk you through five health and safety tips to help you or your loved one combat the colder months ahead.

Let’s take a closer look:

Keep an Eye Out for Ice

If you live in a colder climate area, you’ll want to be careful when walking outside. Icy roads and sidewalks can lead to a terrible fall if you aren’t careful. This is especially true for seniors because falls can lead to head trauma, hip injuries, and fractured bones.

You’ll want to slip on a pair of non-skid soles when you go outside when there is ice or snow on the floor. Ice isn’t always easy to see, so be mindful of the temperatures and recent weather reports. When you come back indoors, slip your shoes off and leave them at the door. This is to ensure none of the ice attached to the sole of the shoe makes the rest of your house slippery.

Fight Off Seasonal Depression

Seasonal depression is a serious issue, no matter the age. When the snow starts to fall and the temperatures drop, it can be especially challenging for seniors to get around town or have opportunities to socialize. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

If you’re feeling lonely, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are senior care services that can help you combat these feelings of loneliness and help you out when you need it.

If you have a loved one that lives alone, consider setting up a check-in system to call and check in on them. Take some time to stop by their house regularly or ask one of their neighbors to swing by when they have a chance. This will give you the peace of mind you need and ensure they’re always taken care of.

Dress Warm

Certain parts of the United States can see below-freezing temperatures. If you aren’t wearing the proper clothes, it could lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Always keep a thermostat close by or check the weather forecast on your phone. If you need new winter clothes, connect with a friend or family member to take you to the store.

Keep in mind: Your body temperature should never drop below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. If you feel your body temperature begin to drop, you’ll want to seek medical attention immediately.

Prepared for the Worst

Anything can happen when the weather starts to take a turn for the worst. That’s why you should always be two steps ahead of any winter-related problems.

If you rely on a fireplace, lantern, or gas heater to keep you warm, you’ll want to have a carbon monoxide detector. These heat sources can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if you aren’t careful. If you already have a sensor in your home, check the batteries and ensure it’s properly working.

Another recurring problem is power outages. If a bad storm hits, you could be out of electricity for days or weeks. Make sure you always have a stockpile of blankets, warmer weather, and food if disaster strikes.

Revisit Your Diet

The gloomy weather can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. To get more vitamin D in your diet, you’ll want to incorporate more calcium-rich foods into your diet or add a multivitamin into your daily routine. This will also ensure you have a strong immune system to fight off any illnesses throughout winter.

Ask For Help From Senior Care Companions

Combating the colder weather isn’t easy. If you’re struggling getting groceries, going to the pharmacy, or taking care of daily tasks around the house: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from Senior Care Companions. Our team is here to help alleviate some of the stress that comes with the colder months and give you the assistance you need.

Seniors need attention and love during the holidays, just like everyone else. Unfortunately, some people forget to visit their loved ones during the busiest times of the year.

Finding ways to take care of seniors during the holidays is extremely important. Doing so involves helping them with their physical, mental, and emotional needs. Let’s look into the ways you can take care of seniors during the holiday season.

Hire a Service

Some seniors might not be able to help themselves with different tasks such as:

Mobility to go places
Remembering important details and schedules
Assistance with motor skills

Whatever you may need, we here at Senior Care Companions can help. We offer various services to help seniors each day. You can find assistants to help them 24/7, or just a few hours of the day.

While you should help seniors when you can, you may need professional help. After all, you can’t be at their sides 24/7, so see if you can find a reliable service to look after them.

Plan Fun Activities

Seniors can face boredom during the holidays, especially if they don’t have people to spend time with them. Coming up with fun activities you can do with one another is important to their mental and emotional wellbeing. Potential activities include:

Sit down and play board games together
Enjoy holiday activities like eating or watching movies
Go for a walk through the park

Focus your attention on letting them have fun. Doing so can help you take care of them emotionally and mentally. For example, they could feel happy after the activities or thankful you thought of them.

Seniors can potentially become lonely and depressed during the holidays, so take the time to plan fun activities for them. Doing so can help them overcome the mundane and boring moments in their lives.

Prepare Them Ahead of Time

Some seniors may like to stick with their schedules. If you know seniors like this, you should prepare them before any activities. Some seniors may have health problems, so make sure you accommodate them.

You can do this in multiple ways such as:

Ensure they have a way to safely reach the areas if they have to use wheelchairs
Give them specific food if they have dietary restrictions
Show them pictures of who they’ll see at the event if they suffer from memory loss

You don’t want to worry them, so make sure you take some time to talk and prepare. This can help them understand the plan and feel comfortable during the activity.

Visit Them Regularly

Often people forget to help seniors with their mental and emotional health during the holidays. If you want to help them during the holidays, just visiting them is an easy way to make their day.

Visiting seniors can help them out in many ways:

Allows them to talk with someone
Shows them others care about their well-being
Help them with tasks or anything else they need

When you visit a senior, you can help them feel happy. You can also help them avoid feelings of loneliness or boredom if they have to live away from home. Even if you have seniors in your life who live on their own, you should visit them during the holidays.

Seniors recognize the time you take to visit them, so they’ll appreciate your efforts.

Ask Them What They Want

Sometimes, people try to make decisions for seniors, so you should communicate when possible. If you communicate with them, you can avoid some problems.

Ensure they do something they like and avoid boredom
Meet their personal needs and keep them safe
Learn more about them and their interests

These points can help you find an activity that will make the seniors happy. You don’t want to drag them to an activity they don’t like, so you need to communicate with them. That way, you can find something you’ll both enjoy.

Some people forget to remember each senior as a person. Make sure you show these seniors you care by asking them what they want. As you do so, you can form stronger relationships with them.

Final Comments

The holidays give you a great opportunity to show your love to the seniors in your life. Whether you want to help relatives in your family or the local seniors, you can make the holidays better for them.

If you want to help these seniors out, try out the ideas above. If you need assistance in taking care of the seniors in your life, reach out to Senior Care Companions.

Have any Questions? Just give us a call, we would love to help in any way.

“Quality Care You Can Trust – Since 2004”