Winter can be a magical time of the year. The world looks beautiful blanketed in snow, and there are lots of great events that happen during the winter months. Plus, there’s no better time to break out all of your favorite winter recipes, such as delicious gingerbread cookies, hearty soups and satisfying casseroles.
However, despite all of the positives present in winter, there are a lot of risks that present themselves when it comes to cold weather, especially for older members of society.
This is something that caregivers should pay special attention to to ensure the older adults in their care do everything they can to mitigate the risks involved with winter weather. Of course always be sure to pay attention to anything you think might be dangerous to your loved one, so this is by no means an exhaustive list, but the following ten points should help you look out for some of the most common hazards faced by older adults during this season.
1. Have a Plan When Going Outside
Every older adult is going to experience a different level of fitness and ability when it comes to aging. Some might still comfortably shovel snow or maintain their garden, while others might only make occasional outings. Regardless of what kind of activity level your loved one engages in, it’s important to make sure they have a plan in place for when they are going outside or doing any kind of physical activity, especially if it’s taking place in cold weather.
Even if your loved one is still quite active, it’s still very possible for them to fall, especially if they are outside on an icy surface. While a fall can certainly be dangerous at any time of year, it is even more so when you add in the element of life-threatening temperatures. If your loved one isn’t able to stand back up on their own, or if they suffer an injury that makes it impossible for them to do so, then a fall could quickly turn into a life or death situation. During the winter there are not as many people out and about, so it is less likely that someone would hear them call for help. If your loved one happens to be out of sight when they fall, such as in their backyard, the chance is even less likely, as they might be too weak to call for help, or unheard even if they are.
That’s why it’s so important to have a plan in place during outdoor activities. This might look like arranging a phone call with you or a neighbor to make sure someone is aware of their movements and when they will be back inside, so that an alert can be put out if they are not heard from by the agreed upon time. This might look like setting up your loved one with an emergency alert device that they can easily press in the case of a fall, or that might even be able to detect a fall without assistance and will immediately place a call to emergency services when a fall happens.
The right system is something you and the older adult you care for can decide on together, but it’s always good to have a plan to make sure they get back inside safely.
2. Proper Shoes
If you live in a place where it’s cold in the winter, then there’s a good chance you have slipped while out walking at least once in your life. And, while an occasional fall on the ice might not be a big deal to someone young, for an older adult a surprising fall on a wintery walkway could have devastating consequences that could lead to a chronic injury and sometimes even death. That’s why purchasing appropriate shoes is very important for all older adults. While even the best footwear can still sometimes fail, older adults have a much better chance of avoiding falls if they have shoes with appropriate traction. Plus a good winter boot will keep feet warm and secure, which is something else that should be considered when thinking about how to keep your loved one safe.
Wirecutter recently offered a great list on some of the best rated men and womens’ winter boots for you to take a look through, and the National Council on Aging offers a sobering look at fall statistics and other ways that you can help your loved one avoid them.
3. Emergency Bag
Winter can mean the start of some violent and unpredictable weather, which can often mean unexpected power outages. You don’t want your loved one to be struggling to locate supplies in a dark house, so make sure they are well equipped to handle a sudden outage, and safely survive until help comes. This looks like putting flashlights in easily accessible locations such as a bedside table, in the front entrance and in a kitchen drawer. You should also have an emergency bag that has blankets, ready to eat food like crackers and tuna, some fresh water, extra batteries, and, if your loved one uses a cell phone, a portable charger that is regularly charged. If your loved one has a landline then that may still be accessible during a power outage, but there’s no guarantee so it’s always a good idea to have a way to charge a cell phone at least once so that they still contact you. Sometimes power outages might happen due to an accident and not just a storm, and if they have no way to contact you then you wouldn’t think to check!
If your loved one still drives they should also carry an emergency bag in their car in case of a breakdown or if they get stranded in the snow. Just a few blankets and a little bit of food might make the difference when it comes to them lasting through the night.
4. Dress Warmly
El Camino Health tells us that older adults tend to struggle with staying warm enough. This is because as we age we struggle to maintain our body temperature the way we used to, so older adults are much more likely to be negatively impacted by a cooler temperature, even if it might not seem too cold for other people.
To help prevent unpleasant effects of the cold, it’s a good idea to encourage your loved one to dress in several warm and cozy layers. This way they can always take off a layer if they get too warm, but don’t have to worry about getting chilly while out on a walk or enjoying time spent at home. It’s also helpful to cover as much of the body as possible, as any exposed skin will let heat from your body escape. This means nice, warm socks, gloves, hats and scarves on top of everything else. Something else to consider is the kind of materials your loved one wears. Wool and down are going to provide a lot more warmth than some synthetics, and it’s better to have loose layers than anything that’s too tight. If the layers are too close together they might actually make your loved one colder, while loose layers will allow some air to get trapped in between the layers, which acts as a kind of insulation.
5. Stay Well-Fed and Hydrated
Our bodies use up a lot of resources to keep us warm during chilly weather, which means it’s more important than ever to make sure we’re staying properly nourished and hydrated.
Penn State suggests not only drinking a lot of water, but also finding hydration through herbal teas, low fat milk and tasty winter soups. Proper hydration can help protect against hypothermia, so it’s particularly important for older adults, who are more susceptible to getting cold, to stay well hydrated.
6. Watch Out for SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as seasonal depression, is a type of depression that usually appears in the fall and can last through the winter. This condition is similar to other forms of depression and can look like exhaustion, sadness and a general disinterest in regular activities. Thankfully there are many ways to help treat this condition, which include light therapy, medication, therapy and vitamin D.
Any type of depression can be incredibly serious and should be tended to immediately, so look out for symptoms in the older adult you care for so that you can get them help when they need it. Outside of treatment, it’s also a good idea to make sure you have fun activities planned for your loved one so they have events to look forward to, as that can really help to boost their mood.
7. Check Safety Equipment
As people move into colder weather, heat usage goes up, which can mean an increased risk of fires and carbon monoxide leaks. While of course any heating devices should be well maintained, it’s also important to make sure your loved one has fire and carbon monoxide detectors placed appropriately around their home and that they are up to date and have functioning batteries. Detectors usually have a 5-10 year lifespan, so if you can’t remember the last time they were changed then they’re probably due to be replaced. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out where they should be placed and maintained.
While you’re checking for detectors, it’s a good time to make sure safety bars, railings and rugs are all safely secured to avoid falls. And, if your loved one has a fireplace then you should make sure their chimney has been cleaned recently. Some people avoid maintaining these items because of the cost, but nothing is worth risking one’s life!
8. Clear Walkways
Another good way to help your loved one avoid falls is by ensuring that their walkways are regularly cleared of snow and salted or sanded as needed. There are many snow clearing services available in different states that usually come with a promise to clear walkways and driveways within a certain amount of time after a snowfall. If your loved one insists on still shoveling make sure you have that suggested emergency plan, mentioned above, in place, and see if you can offer any help so that they don’t overexert themselves. In some areas clearning a walkway might require cutting through ice, which might be too intensive an activity for some older adults.
9. Be Mindful of Space Heaters
Space heaters can be a great way to stay warm during the winter, but if used improperly they can pose a major fire hazard.
Thankfully, Consumer Reports lays out several tips to help people use them appropriately, these tips include:
- Keeping heaters three feet away from anything flammable, like furniture
- Never plugging one into an extension cord or into an outlet that is already powering something else
- Never running them in a space with anything combustible such as paint cans
- Always turning them off when in another room or when going to bed for the night
The last one can be particularly tempting, as many people might hope to keep a space heater running at night, but the risk is just too great. Instead, make sure your loved one has warm pajamas and lots of comfortable bedding to keep them nice and cozy at night. Socks and a hot water bottle that is securely closed can also help keep older adults warm through the night.
10. Stay Up to Date with Health Recommendations
Finally, a good suggestion to help your loved one stay safe winter is by making sure they stay up to date with all of their medical needs. This means making time for regular doctor check-ups, staying up to date on medication and vitamins, and taking suggested immunizations to help protect them against serious illnesses.
Winter is well known for being the cold and flu season, so be sure to follow health recommendations, as older adults are much more likely to develop a serious illness when exposed to something that might not be a big deal to you. That’s why it’s also a good idea to limit your contact with your loved one, or consider wearing a mask to help protect against the spread of germs. Being sure to thoroughly wash your hands after being out in public, blowing your nose, coughing or using the bathroom is also a very good practice, and you should encourage your loved one to do the same. Harvard lays out some good tips for good hand hygiene, which include washing for one minute with soap and warm water, and using hand lotion to avoid cracks from dry skin that could allow in bacteria.
While soup and water is the best way to clean hands, especially if there’s actually dirt on them, hand sanitizer is still a good tool, especially when out and about when you don’t have access to a sink. A no name brand is affordable and a small bottle can easily be slipped into a bag or a car to keep with you.
Remember, this is not a definitive list, so be sure to step in if you notice other ways that your loved one could be safer in the wintertime, but hopefully these tips give you a great starting place and help keep everyone safe during this beautiful season.
