Cold Weather Safety Tips For Seniors

12/03/2014
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Senior Safety Tips: Be Prepared for a Cold, Harsh Winter.

A Polar Vortex brought unusually low, record-breaking cold temperatures across the United States in mid-November this year, kicking off and early winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the 223-year-old chronicler of climate, predicts a super-cold, harsh winter in the eastern two-thirds of the country. The west will remain a little bit warmer than normal. Cold weather can pose serious health hazards to older adults. Falls and other accidents, hypothermia, and depression are more common as the temperature drops. The key to safety is prevention. Here are some tips to ensure a safe season.

 

Stay Warm and Avoid Hypothermia

A normal body temperature is 98.6 °F. A few degrees lower, for example, 95 °F, can be dangerous. It may cause an irregular heartbeat leading to heart problems and death. This drop in body temperature is called hypothermia. The obvious way for seniors to avoid hypothermia is to remain indoors when possible and stay warm. However, being in a cold building can also cause hypothermia and some illnesses may make it harder for a person’s body to stay warm, even indoors. These include problems with the body’s hormone system, such as low thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), health problems that keep blood from flowing normally (like diabetes), and some skin problems where the body loses more heat than normal.

In fact, hypothermia can happen to someone in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept warm enough. People who are already sick may have special problems keeping warm. If someone you know is in a group facility, pay attention to the inside temperature and to whether that person is dressed warmly enough.

Even if you keep your temperature between 60 °F and 65 °F, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. For some people, this temperature can contribute to hypothermia. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia. Set your thermostat for at least 68 °F to 70 °F. If a power outage leaves you without heat, try to stay with a relative or friend. Signs of hypothermia include:

  • Confusion or sleepiness
  • Slowed, slurred speech, or shallow breathing
  • Weak pulse
  • Change in behavior or in the way a person looks
  • A lot of shivering or no shivering; stiffness in the arms or legs
  • Poor control over body movements or slow reactions

 

Watch Out for Ice

More than 1.6 million older Americans go to the emergency room each year for fall-related injuries, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But falls don’t have to happen, even when snow and ice make for slippery conditions. To lessen the chance of falling in cold weather:

  • Stretch before going outside. Stretching improves circulation and limbers muscles.
  • Wear sensible footwear. Shoes should have low heels, good support and non-skid soles.
  • Stick to cleared sidewalks and roads. Shovel snow and sprinkle sand or salt on icy areas — or ask someone to do it for you.
  • Use assistive devices when necessary. Hold handrails on stairs. Use a cane or walker if necessary to help maintain balance.
  • Avoid going outside when conditions are poor. Exercise indoors. Stock up on necessities in good weather, or ask someone to deliver them to you.

 

Be Prepared for Power Outages

Have a programmable phone with emergency numbers entered. Another good idea for older persons living alone is a personal emergency response system — a device worn around the neck or on a bracelet, which can summon help if needed. Wear this device all the time, and use it. Also:

  • Stock up on food and fresh water. Some Meals on Wheels programs provide frozen emergency food packs that can be heated on days when there is no delivery.
  • Keep batteries, candles, flashlights, Sterno fuel, extra blankets and a battery-operated radio on hand.
  • Watch the local news to know when hazardous weather is on its way.

 

Fight Depression

Because it can be difficult and dangerous to get around, many seniors have less contact with others during cold months. This can breed feelings of loneliness and isolation. The isolation and loneliness that afflict many seniors become even worse when the weather is harsh. Shorter days mean less sunlight, which can also contribute to depression. To prevent depression:

  • Seniors should make an effort to visit with family and friends (and family and friends should make an effort to visit their senior loved ones).
    Spending time with others can lift one’s spirits.
  • When the weather is too harsh for travel, pick up the phone and call a friend or relative for a chat.
  • Engage in favorite in-door hobbies or activities that can keep the mind active and distracted from the weather outside.

 

Be Careful with Home Heating

Burning wood, natural gas, kerosene and other fuels produces carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that cannot be seen or smelled. Unless fireplaces, wood and gas stoves and gas appliances are properly vented, cleaned, and used, they can leak dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide. These and other appliances, such as kerosene and electric heaters, can also be fire hazards. Be sure to:

  • Have chimneys and flues inspected yearly and cleaned when necessary.
  • Open a window, even just a crack, when using a kerosene stove.
  • Ensure all smoke detectors and battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.
  • Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that might catch fire, such as curtains, bedding and furniture.

 

If you’ve decided that winter has become too much to face without assistance and are seeking a senior apartment, independent-living, assisted-living, or other continuing-care community, don’t forget to visit alternativesforseniors.com to assist your search.

 

Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families since 1992. Call our Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) or visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to begin searching for the perfect home for you or your loved ones. Also, be sure to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter.

 

BLOG Date: Wenesday, December 3, 2014
Writer: Ryan Allen