6 Winter Safety Tips for Seniors
As we enter the colder, darker months, now is a good time to brush up on winter safety for seniors. Cold weather precautions can save lives; according to the CDC, over 8 in 10 elderly Americans are at a higher risk of temperature-related death due to existing chronic illness. There are also increased risks due to icy sidewalks, power outages, and invisible threats such as dehydration and carbon monoxide.
To promote winter safety for your senior loved one, help them plan around the following considerations.
Staying Warm
Whether your loved one lives in a rural or urban area, cold temperatures can present a threat or exacerbate fragile health. Make sure they wear appropriate clothing in warm fabrics that fit comfortably, and assess the temperature in their home, which should stay no colder than 68°F.
Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your body temperature drops below 95°F. You may be surprised to realize that is not much lower than our average 98.6°F! Hypothermia can be detected by taking temperature with a thermometer, as well as watching for signs like shivering, paleness, a puffy face, slurred speech, and sleepiness or confusion. The risk of hypothermia is greatest when our body is cold and wet (with snow/rain, sweat, or after bathing). Talk to your senior loved one about covering all exposed skin when they are outdoors in the cold; this means wearing a hat, gloves, and a scarf over the bottom part of their face. They should also wear warm socks, waterproof shoes, and a coat.
Another threat to watch out for is frostbite, when skin and tissue become frozen. Watch for purple, blue, red, or brown patches on skin (especially fingertips), waxy skin, numbness, or blistering, and get medical attention immediately.
Managing Chronic Medical Conditions
Seniors with cognitive impairment or memory loss need extra support to ensure they are practicing cold weather safety. Check in on them regularly (or take advantage of voice-activated smart devices) to make sure they are taking medications, closing windows and doors, dressing warmly, and drinking water.
Those with respiratory illness may find it aggravated by the cold, dry air, while those with arthritis may experience more pain. Seniors with impaired circulation or conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes have a harder time regulating safe body temperature, and so might need to put on extra clothing layers. Speak with your loved one’s doctor about impacts their chronic conditions might have on their cold weather safety.
Also consider nutrition and hydration. Dehydration heightens symptoms from many chronic health conditions and can prove to be a medical complication, so seniors should drink plenty of water, even though the cold might make them feel less thirsty. They should also focus on eating healthy meals at regular times, which you can help them plan, prepare, or arrange.
Lastly, keep up with medication refills so that they will have what they need in case of a storm.
Preventing Falls
Icy sidewalks and driveways, snow, and short daylight hours all increase the risk of falls for seniors.
Shoveling snow is risky for most elderly individuals (especially if they have a heart condition or other medical risk factor), so make other provisions to clear their path in and out of the house. Help ensure that the ends of walking sticks or walkers are dry and level, and add lights (such as motion-activated or timed ones) to entrances. Footwear should be non-slip, with rubber soles and no heels. To avoid them coming to the front door overloaded with shopping bags and other items—compromising balance and limiting vision—consider a grocery delivery for your senior loved one.
Winter Home Safety Tips
During cold weather, elderly individuals living alone need to take extra precautions for home safety. As we already discussed, adequate lighting becomes especially important when nights grow long. Keep floors free of slipping hazards and take care of any minor maintenance like sticky doors or loose cabinet hinges. Examine the home for drafts that can be addressed before temperatures drop, and close off unused rooms to concentrate heat in more lived-in areas. Prior to use, check fireplaces and chimneys to make sure they are clear, and confirm space heaters are in good working condition (especially the cords, which should be taped down).
Power outages can occur during winter storms, so it is wise to be prepared with nonperishable foods, lots of blankets, a battery-powered radio, and bright, battery-powered lanterns. If using a generator or a gas-powered lamp, stove, or fireplace, make sure to follow carbon monoxide safety guidelines, and confirm there is a working carbon monoxide alarm close by.
You can read about other, year-round home safety tips for seniors here and here.
Managing Mood
Many people experience a depressed mood during wintertime due to the weather and the increased isolation it can promote. Check in often with your senior loved one and visit when you can. Call services for seniors can also help with providing regular socialization and monitoring safety. (Here are more ideas for alleviating senior loneliness.)
Sun lamps help some individuals feel better, as does taking vitamin D. (Be sure to speak with your loved one’s doctor before adding new supplements to their diet.) Exercise can be done in the home, helping them keep their body strong and spirits up; consider a stretching, tai chi, yoga, or weights routine, which can be set with the help of a physical therapist.
Encourage them to keep up with hobbies, and because several holidays occur during those cold, dreary months, find ways to include your senior loved one in meaningful celebrations.
Accessing Assistive Services
If your elderly loved one is concerned about paying heating bills through the winter, the US Department of Health and Human Services has a program that can help. Read more about LIHEAP here. Likewise, the WAP program exists to help with weatherization home improvements (link here).
Those concerned with meal provision can contact an organization like Meals on Wheels, your local senior center, or nearby houses of worship, which can often connect them to resources.
Families that need more support for their elderly relative’s winter health care, especially with activities of daily living (ADLs), may benefit from a professional home-based care service which can provide health support, household help, safety monitoring, and socialization. Medicare or insurance may cover these services in part or in whole, and veterans and their spouses may be covered by the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit. Veterans Home Care can help you determine whether you or your loved one will be eligible to receive the benefit, which can cover some or all of the cost of home care, and we make it easy to apply. Chat with us via our website, or call us at (888) 314-6075.
