During the winter months, seniors have a high risk of falling due to snowy and icy conditions which can cause injuries. They are also at a high risk of hypothermia and frostbite during the cold temperatures.

It is important for seniors to be aware of how they can help keep themselves and their home safe throughout the winter. Homes must be maintained properly to ensure they can handle winter conditions and so that no costly repairs come up because of freezing temperatures.

Here are some ways that seniors can keep themselves and their homes safe during the winter:

Prevent Slips and Falls

Areas around the home should be salted to prevent slips and falls. Also, you should place a mat and a chair near the door so that you have a non-slippery area to take off your boots when you enter.

Clean the Gutters

Gutters should be cleaned prior to any snowfall. If they are not cleaned, they may become clogged and cause a leaky roof and shingle damage which are very costly to fix. If you are unsure if your roof is damaged, make sure to have experts look at it. You can check the Better Business Bureau for reliable local businesses that can help.

Have Winter Bedding Ready

Make sure to have extra blankets and soft comforters to keep you warm during the cold winter months. You should also keep extra blankets nearby for the nights when it is extra cold.

Turn Off the Outdoor Water Supply

The outdoor water supply should be turned off at the end of summer. This will ensure that the pipes do not freeze as this can be a costly issue. You can also protect pipes in your home from very cold temperatures by wrapping them in insulated heat tape.

Brighten Up Interior Lighting

Indoor lighting is important to think about for the winter months. As days become shorter, there is less daylight. That means that indoor lighting should be made brighter. Not only will more time be spent indoors, but there needs to be adequate lighting to ensure that seniors can see properly as they walk to dress, bathe, and eat. You can change your lightbulbs to brighter ones and even add more lights, such as extra lamps. When buying bulbs, you should look for ones with high color-rendering index as they provide the truest light.

Proper Insulation is Necessary

If your home is equipped with central heat, you need to make sure that your ducts are sealed and insulated to keep your home warm and to save on energy costs. Make sure to also check all windows and doorframes to see if any air is coming in or if there are cracks in the windows or around the doors. If you do see air that is coming in, re-caulk around the frames and repair any broken or cracked windows. This will stop the cold air from coming in.

Power Outages

During the winter months, it is common for power to go out, so you should prepare yourself as much as possible. Power outages lead to loss of heat and a loss in communication. Therefore, if you are unable to get weather updates, that can be a big problem. You should always have a backup heat source. If you have a fireplace, you should be able to start it even if it is freezing outside. You could also keep a portable gas heater for these situations. These are powered by propane or kerosene, and they are safe for you to use.

A few other things to keep in mind in a case of a power outage:

• Backup generators are great to power anything from lights to appliances and heaters.
• If you are using a heat source, it is important to check that your fire alarms have new batteries as you are still at a risk of a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• You should always have non-perishable food stored and available.
• Always have flashlights, lanterns, candles, or other light sources on the ready in case you need them.
• In a situation where you are unable to reach a friend or a family member during an outage, it is a great idea to ask neighbors and nearby friends if they can check on them.

Preventing Seasonal Depression

When it comes to winter weather and the elderly, it is important to understand that it may lead to isolation and feelings of depression and loneliness. Make sure that you check in with your friends and neighbors who are seniors. If you cannot reach them, make sure that a neighbor checks on them frequently. If you know a senior who is feeling isolated due to weather conditions, you need to look into senior therapy. This type of therapy can benefit their mental and physical health.

Winters can be long and cold, but they don’t have to be isolating. Assisting Hands Home Care of Palos Heights, IL can help with your senior home care needs today.  We know that getting the right senior care is important. Make sure to reach out to our friendly staff at (773) 694- 2677 to find out more about our elderly care services.