Senior Holiday Safety

By Anna Hazard

"It's the most wonderful time of the year" -- as the old Andy Williams song goes -- but also an exhausting time where it's easy enough to lose track of you or your loved ones personal safety in the whirl of holiday activity. Keep these tips and tricks in mind when it comes to safety during the holiday season for your senior loved ones.

• As the temperature drops and the weather becomes less agreeable, ask friends, family, and neighbors who live closer by to check in more frequently with your elderly loved ones
  

• Set up arrangements in advance for someone to shovel any potential snow and to help with holiday decorations, especially when it comes to more physically demanding options such as outdoor holiday lighting.
  

• Beware of icy streets & sidewalks and other such mobility (and tripping!) hazards when the time comes for holiday shopping and visiting
  

• Make certain your loved ones are well stocked with back-up supplies in case of any potential winter blizzards
  

• Artificial trees are preferred if your elderly loves ones or family aren't capable of the continued care of the more messy live trees. To help avoid Christmas tree fires, only indoor lights should be used upon them, with LED lights  having the least fire hazard potential due to their low heat temperature.
  

• Avoid real burning candles for anyone with potential memory problems and opt for artificial lights (such as LED candle lights) instead
  

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• Keep all wires, cords, and cables from holiday decorations along the walls and corners and not underfoot to help avoid them becoming potential tripping hazards. (Cables can be kept out of the way with various cable organizers ranging from bread twist ties to the cute monkey organizer shown here)
  

• Keep in mind any dietary restrictions & medicines of your loved ones when it comes to holiday meals (such as many types of medicines being incompatible with alcohol or the increased risk of diabetes 2 complications in the elderly)