At Home Care Services for Seniors: Staying Safe in the Winter
With at home care services from Visiting Angels, your elderly loved one in Jenkintown, PA can enjoy the winter weather while staying safe and healthy
As we get deeper into the winter season, we are experiencing an increasing amount of inclement weather. Without a doubt, the weather will get increasingly worse and it is important to make sure your loved one is prepared for the winter. Over the past two decades, Visiting Angels has been providing at home care services to older adults across the country, including Jenkintown, PA. In other words, we have a lot of experience getting seniors through even the toughest of winters and wanted to put together a couple of tips to help both professional and family caregivers.
Prepare for Slippery Walkways and Fall-related Risks
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to the winter time is that older adults are already at a high risk of falling. This risk goes up even more during the winter time. Although falls do not sound like much trouble, for older adults, taking a fall can be devastating. A majority of emergency room visits by older adults are the direct cause of falling. During the winter, the outside can become a battleground for older adults, particularly if it is snowing. Ice is particularly problematic as well, as many older adults have trouble with balance as it is.
Be Aware of Low Temperatures
Make sure that your loved one is aware of the temperature that it will be outside if they plan on venturing out. Dressing for the weather is paramount and one thing in particular that older adults should watch out for is freezing air. When it is cold outside, seniors should bundle up and dress in many layers. Seniors have lower body heat as it is and have issues regulating their body temperature. Seniors living in colder parts of the country have to be aware of this at all times.
Getting the Proper Nutrition During the Winter
Vitamins and supplements are a great help. Remind your loved one as regularly as you can to take their vitamins and supplements on a daily basis. Do not let them get behind on doing so as having a strong immune system and healthy bones during the winter months is incredibly beneficial.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Creating an emergency plan is also helpful when it comes to winter safety measures. If your family already has one, revisit it and see if it stacks up considering winter conditions in your loved one's life.
Consider Professional At Home Care Services
It may also be a good idea to consider professional caregivers like Visiting Angels Jenkintown. The fact is that at home care services are beneficial for all seniors, despite their level of physical or mental ability and they go a long way towards making sure your loved one is staying safe and independent.
To find out more about how you can help your loved one during the winter or about at home care services, please give us a call today.
To learn more about how we can prepare your loved one for winter weather in Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Huntingdon Valley, Lafayette Hill, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, and throughout Eastern Montgomery County, PA, call Visiting Angels Jenkintown today at (215) 938-7201.