During the winter months, ice, snow, and cold temperatures can make life challenging for anyone. Slippery sidewalks and cold weather can cause a wide range of injuries and illnesses, especially for older people. While finding senior care to assist older adults on a regular basis can help keep them safe during any season, the following senior safety tips for winter can be helpful for preventing common cold weather dangers to older adults.
1. Avoid slipping on ice
Icy, snowy roads, and sidewalks make it easy to slip and fall. “Unfortunately, falls are a common occurrence for senior citizens, especially during the winter months,” says Dr. Stanley Wang, a physician at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Often these falls cause major injuries such as hip and wrist fractures, head trauma, and major lacerations. While younger people often recover relatively quickly from such injuries, older adults face complications, which Wang says are a leading cause of death from injury in men and women over the age of 65. For that reason, he recommends older adults wear shoes with good traction and non-skid soles, and stay inside until the roads are clear. Replacing a worn cane tip can make walking easier, and older people are advised to take their shoes off as soon as they return indoors, because often snow and ice attach to the soles and, once melted, can lead to slippery conditions inside.
2. Dress for warmth
Cold temperatures can lead to frostbite and hypothermia, a condition in which the body temperature dips too low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, death rates attributed to excessive cold or hypothermia between 2015–2017 increased steadily with age among those aged ≥15 years in both metropolitan and rural areas. That’s why older adults are advised to wear warm socks, a heavy coat, a warm hat, gloves, and a scarf if heading outdoors. In very cold temperatures, they should cover all exposed skin and use a scarf to cover their mouth. If you confirm via thermometer that your older loved one’s temperature has dipped below 95 degrees, seek medical assistance immediately.
3. Fight wintertime depression
Because it can be difficult and dangerous to get around, many older adults have less contact with others during cold months. This can breed feelings of loneliness and isolation. To help avoid these issues, family members can check in on seniors as often as possible or send their loved one to adult day care; a short, daily phone call can also make a big difference. Seniors can also arrange a check-in system with neighbors and friends, where each person looks in on one or two others daily.
To read the full article, please click here: https://www.care.com/c/winter-safety-tips-for-seniors/
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