Neighbor News
Keep Seniors Safe in the Winter
Keep your loved one, safe, healthy and warm with these tips from At Home Personal Care in Northern Virginia.
Winter presents some difficult challenges for seniors with mobility and health issues. Use these 5 winter safety tips for seniors to help your loved navigate this season safely and healthfully:
1. Eliminate slipping and falling risks
Make sure that walkways and driveways around your loved one’s home are sufficiently cleared of snow and ice to reduce the risk of falling. Inside, it’s always a good idea to go around the home and remove any other trip hazards as well: cords, cables, furniture arrangements, etc. should be stowed to reduce fall risks everywhere.
2. Stay active and social
Winter can be particularly difficult, depressing and isolating time for seniors. Include them in family gatherings, call regularly, help them attend social, cultural and religious functions and visit with friends. Talk with their healthcare provider about exercises that would be safe and healthy for them.
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3. Service the car
Make sure their car has been winterized, serviced and is stocked with an emergency safety kit. Also ensure that their insurance is current and that driving glasses are updated. If your loved one no longer drives, make sure that he or she has sufficient and safe transportation alternatives.
4. Eliminate carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards
Double check batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check the safety and maintenance situation of any gas heaters or appliances to reduce risks. If a fireplace is involved, make sure a chimneysweep visits to do any required cleaning and maintenance and make sure any other electrical fire hazards are checked by an electrician.
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5. Establish an emergency plan
Whether it’s a blizzard, an ice storm, a power outage or any other type of emergency, make sure to work with your loved one and his or her caregivers on an emergency plan to implement in case things get scary. Make sure everyone knows the numbers to call, where to go, where the emergency kits are located, etc.
To find out more about how you can keep your senior loved one safe this coming winter, check out this postor, contact At Home Personal Care for individualized suggestions: (703) 330-2323.
