As the winter season rolls around, you may be wondering how you can help your loved one prepare for the winter. We’ve all heard the stories of older people slipping and falling on ice or being injured shoveling their driveway.
Of course, you want to keep your elderly loved one safe. In order to do so, you’ll need to take the necessary precautions to ensure their wellbeing this season. Follow these tips.
1. Dressing for the Season
Your elderly loved one’s winter wardrobe should be completely different from their summer wardrobe. Ensure they wear a hat and mittens when they leave the house. You want to avoid the risk of hypothermia or frostbite at all costs.
Buying the right pair of winter boots will also help your loved one stay safe this winter. Their boots should have a good grip, while also being snug on their feet. Ask a store associate to help you find a good pair of boots that can withstand the harsh winter conditions.
2. Tackle Snow and Ice
A slip and fall can be serious. One in three elderly individuals fall each year. If sidewalks, driveways, and laneways were properly maintained throughout the winter, this number could be seriously reduced. To avoid putting your loved one at risk, ensure proper maintenance. If you are unable to shovel their driveway yourself, enlist the services of a plowing company.
3. Staying Social
Because of the cold weather, your loved one may want to stay indoors more, which could lead to isolation. Don’t let the winter blues negatively impact their mental health and stop them from having a social life. Visit them often, have them join a club, or look into companion care to keep your loved one engaged.
4. Winter Tires Are a Must
Even if your elderly loved one has been driving their whole life without snow tires, why take the extra risk? If they’re still independent enough to drive, winter tires should be installed before the first snowfall.
Winter tires have a better grip and wider tread pattern, which allows them to more easily displace snow and slush. Because of this, the risk associated with snow tires is 50 percent lower than regular tires.
5. Spare Batteries
Batteries can be used for many useful things around the house during the winter. In case of a power outage, make sure your loved one has flashlights and spare batteries on hand.
6. A Balanced Diet
The cold weather makes us more inclined to eat hearty comfort food, forgetting about our daily nutritional intake. Ensure your loved one is eating a balanced diet. An in-home care provider can come over to help with meal preparation if required.
