Winter Tips for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

While winter temperatures with their attendant weather (blizzards, ice storms, and hail, oh my!) can be a literal pain for all involved, health risks this time of year increase especially for seniors and those with disabilities. The dangers of hypothermia, falls and other accidents, as well as seasonal depression rise as the temperature decreases.
 
Keep the following tips in mind when it comes to safeguarding your elderly loved ones against the chill of mother nature.

Get a Head Start - Advanced Preparations in Autumn

• Remove dead/dying or encroaching trees limbs & a shrubbery in the fall as the extra weight of snowfall can bring them crashing down the following winter
  
• Check your loved one's windows & doors for cracked sealants and leaks that will increase heating costs when the temperature drops
  
• Clean out and inspect gutters for any potential blockages or leaks to help prevent damage that may be incurred due to incoming snow or ice
• Winterize and doublecheck that vehicles are in working order, which should include inspecting oil & anti-freeze levels, battery, windshield wipers, and the air pressure + tread on tires. Normal all season tires can also be switched out for snow/winter tires if necessary. Before a snow storm or bad weather hits, fill the gas tank up in case of emergencies.

Stock Up on Supplies

• Have all necessary prescription & over-the-counter medicines stocked up (at least 1 week supply at all times during the winter) in advance in case of being snowed in.
  
• Have emergency rations & supplies ready to go in case of inclement weather. The emergency kit should include..
  • Flashlights + batteries in good working order in case of power outages. Or go one step fancier and have battery powered lamps that turn on automatically during outages.
  • Extra batteries should be on hand for hearing aids, wheelchair, and other medical devices
  • Cell phones should be fully charged before bad weather hits in case landlines go down.
  • Prepare in advance the standard bad weather emergency stash which would include a first aid kit, extra blankets, warm clothes, rock salt/kitty litter/sand, water bottles (1 gallon per person per day), nonperishable food, and a battery powered radio

Winter Heating & Electricity

• Doublecheck that your loved one's electricity and heating bills are properly paid up in advance
• Check that the furnace, fireplace, or main heating source is in good working order with enough fuel -- whether it be wood, oil, or batteries -- stocked up in advance.
• Portable space heaters are the cause of 32% of all home heating fires. Doublecheck that all precautions for these heaters have been met including keeping all objects clear in a three foot radius and making certain that the power cord is not frayed and is plugged directly into an outlet, not through an extension cord. Also opt for a space heater that comes with an auto-shut off mechanism for when it overheats or gets accidentally tipped over.
• Make sure that carbon dioxide and fire detectors are in good working order with back-up batteries in supply and that a fire extinguisher is also present.
• Have a back-up power source for necessary equipment such as  BiPAP or CPAP machines or other medical devices
• Keep a humidifier on hand to combat the dryness of heated air which can cause nosebleeds and other health problems such as irritated eyes and "winter itch" skin.

Health Precautions

• As influenza complications rise with age, make certain your elderly loved on has their yearly flu vaccine in advance.
  
• Seniors are encouraged to stay indoors during bad weather and so Vitamin D supplements may be required to compensate for the lack of time spent outside in the sun
  
• If your elderly loved relative is one of those affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), otherwise known as winter depression, light therapy treatment using light lamps/boxes can be prepared in advance
  

The Very Best Bad Weather Safeguards - People!

• Have someone nearby who can periodically check in on aging neighbors, especially during bad weather
• Prescriptions and groceries can be delivered directly to the house when bad weather threatens which can greatly reduce the chance of slipping and falling outside
  
• Keep up to date on weather alerts via the internet, apps, or television and send along those warnings to your loved ones in advance

Direct Combat Against the Weather

• Make certain that your senior loved ones are dressed appropriately for the weather as the elderly tend to have lower body heat due to a slower metabolism and thus can succumb to hypothermia and frostbite far easier. This should include wearing layers, gloves where appropriate, and hats.
  
• Hot foods and drinks can also be used to easily combat the chills
• Exposure to ice should be limited as much as possible due to the increased risk of falling (with 87% of all fractures in those 65 and older being caused by a fall)
  • Have someone local lined up in advance to shovel snow & clear ice along the pathways and handrails
  • Prepare rock salt/sand/kitty litter in advance (to be preferably used by the person who will shoveling snow)
  • When going outside, wear shoes with good traction and non-skid soles.
  • Replace the worn rubber tips on canes and walkers for better grip in icy conditions. You can also switch out the normal tip for a special ice pick attachment.