Helping an Elderly Parent Prepare for Winter
Winter is just around the corner, and while families prepare for the festivities of the season, they should also prepare for the many risks that can come with the cold weather.
Throughout this week, we’ll discuss some tips on how to prepare for winter, from keeping warm, to fall prevention, to emergency winter events.
For today, we will start by covering several tips on keeping warm that will help you (and your elderly loved ones) prepare for the coming winter months.
As the temperature drops, it’s important to make sure that you are doing everything possible to keep you or your loved one warm. A cold winter night can be dangerous if you aren’t adequately prepared for it. Along with wearing extra clothing, here’s what we suggest:
Call for a furnace check up. This time of the year is when you’ll be using your furnace the most, so it’s important that you make sure your furnace is working in tip-top shape. Have a professional come out and take a look. Once the tune up is complete, ask for 24-hour emergency number and make sure the number is posted where it can be easily found (we suggest on the refrigerator, or possibly in their cell phone).
Keep blankets handy. Having blankets in easy-to-reach places around the house is another way to help keep you or your loved one warm. Try to make sure extra blankets are kept near their most frequented places (e.g. favorite chair, sofa, or bedroom).
Try to keep outside activities to a minimum. Despite the turn in weather, you or your loved one might need to go outside in order to throw out the trash, get the mail, etc.
However, there are ways to keep these activities to a minimum:
- Ask your mailman to deliver the mail to your door. If he or she is unable to do so, ask a neighbor or family member to pick up the mail for you.
- Ask a neighbor, family member, or even a professional service to help shovel the driveway and walkway. Shoveling snow can be difficult as you age–the risk of overworking yourself increases and can lead to a number of health problems.
- Ask for help with trash removal. Picking up a heavy bag of trash can already be difficult task in old age, and having to carry it in cold and slippery conditions can make it worse. If you already have a neighbor or family member helping your elderly parent get your mail or shovel the drive-way, ask if they can help bring trash to the end of the drive-way for pick up. It may even be possible to have the snow-removal team help.
Getting ready for winter can be a daunting task, but with these tips, we hope to ease the tension in order to make the holiday season a great one for you and your family.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the information here or want more tips on how to prepare for winter, let us know in the comments below or on Twitter. We’re always happy to help!
Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living currently serving Omaha, Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa provides seniors and their families a complete understanding of geriatric care options and helps families maneuver through the challenges of the system. Get your free Cost Comparison guide by clicking here. Or contact us for a free consultation or just to say hello!
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“Physicians’ Choice Private Duty Assisted Living solves the challenges families face in caring for aging parents, with a focus on strategies that keep them in their homes. To learn more about our solutions, visit http://www.private-duty.pchhc.com.”