Preparing Your Elderly Loved Ones for Winter

Winter is fast approaching. The upcoming holiday season brings with it many reasons to celebrate. However, along with the beauty of holiday lights and white snow come frigid temperatures that can cause sickness, ice that can lead to falls and slips, and weather conditions that can bring about serious depression among seniors who are not receiving quality senior care in New Jersey.

With all these hazards ahead, you need to prepare your loved ones in advance and take precautions to keep them safe. One way to do that is by availing of home care services in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Professional home caregivers can assist your elderly family members with their needs during these chilly months, thereby allowing your loved ones to enjoy the festive season to the fullest.

In the meantime, you may want to take note of the following helpful tips below from Serenity Senior Care:

• Plan ahead.
  Make sure your loved ones’ home environment is properly lit. Stock up on their groceries beforehand and choose items that do not need refrigeration (in case of power outages). Install space heaters and pile up enough warm blankets and clothing to counter the cold. As an agency providing exceptional nursing care in New Jersey, we also suggest that you purchase footwear with non-skid soles for them to avoid accidents.
• Always communicate and check in with your older family members.
  We cannot emphasize this enough. It is crucial that you regularly check in with them since the isolation and loneliness they may feel will impact their health and safety. In fact, the National Institute on Aging suggests that you make sure your loved ones are never alone in case of major storms.

More Useful Tips to Prepare Your Elderly Loved Ones for the Winter

1. Make sure your elderly loved ones are dressed properly for winter. While wearing a coat or jacket is essential for preventing the cold from damaging their skin, it is also important to make sure they have thick layers of clothing that will be both warm and protective at the same time. It is best to purchase a combination of cold-weather gear, as this will help them stay warm through any temperature fluctuations during the winter season.
2. Consider installing additional heating in the home. If your elderly loved ones live in a house or apartment that is not equipped with proper heating, they may be subject to sudden temperature drops as soon as they step outside their front door. Install additional heating or place heaters in different areas of the living space to help prevent frigid temperatures from causing health problems for your elderly loved ones.
3. Make sure they have easy access to an extra layer of clothes. It is important to have an extra layer of clothing for your elderly loved ones in case they need to change into something more comfortable during the winter season. It can be helpful to purchase some extra blankets so that they do not have to go outside if they are too hot.
4. Have them take their medication on a daily basis. People over the age of 65 may sometimes forget to take their medication or fail to take it at the correct time because of changes in their daily schedules. It is important to check in with your elderly loved ones every day during the cold months to make sure they are taking their medication on a regular basis.
5. Plan out their activities and schedule them for the day. If your elderly loved ones have a lot of free time on their hands, it is best to plan out the days they will be spending doing their favorite things so that they do not feel too rushed when it comes time for bed or going outside.
6. Consider purchasing a special vehicle for your elderly loved ones. If the weather is particularly cold, they may be too uncomfortable to walk outside for extended periods of time during the winter months. Instead, consider renting one of the newly available vehicles that have heating or air conditioning to help keep them warm and comfortable while they are traveling around town or visiting their friends and family members.
7. Ensure proper hydration and nutrition. Many people over the age of 65 have a tendency to fall prey to dehydration and malnutrition during the winter months, which can contribute to low energy levels and other health complications. Make sure to consume enough water and balanced meals throughout the day so that they are not feeling miserable due to hunger or lack of energy.
8. Protect your elderly loved ones from drug interactions. If diabetes or hypertension are among your loved ones’ health conditions, they may have to avoid certain medications in order to prevent serious complications from occurring. If you notice that their prescribed medications are causing problems, it is necessary to help them reduce the risk of side effects by changing their medication regimen. It is also important to encourage them to monitor their blood pressure and blood sugars on a regular basis so that they can be safe while taking other medications as well.
9. Establish a relationship with their doctor. It is important to develop a good relationship with their doctor in order to establish a safe and effective treatment regimen. Keep in mind that different doctors will recommend different treatments based on their past experience, so always keep an open line of communication with your elderly loved ones so that they can inform you if they are having problems with a particular treatment.
10. Have them avoid spending too much time outside, especially during the evening hours when the temperature drops significantly. Exposure to cold temperatures can increase the risk of health problems, so it is important to encourage them to stay inside as much as possible during the evening hours.

What to Eat and Drink

Before the cold season descends, it is desirable to plan ahead on what your elderly loved ones will eat and drink. This way, you can stock up on their favorite foods and drinks for them to enjoy year-round.

The best thing they should eat is a balanced meal that includes protein, vegetables, and a little bit of carbohydrates. The worst thing they can eat is anything that has cream or cheese in it because this can be one of the main causes of breathing problems during the winter months.

When it comes to food and drinks, it is all about moderation. They will be able to enjoy a great meal if they eat slow-release protein and low fat foods. Always discuss with them what foods they can have in the evening as well, as this is extremely important for their health.

If you are extra cautious and want to make sure that your loved ones do not suffer from malnutrition, you should prepare their favorite meals in advance. When you do this, it is going to be more fun for them and they will want to eat the food they have prepared.

Keep the season in mind

• The kind of food your loved ones will eat at this time of the year is very important because it needs to be heavy and contain plenty of liquids. When they eat more fruits or vegetables during the winter, they will not get enough liquids and that can be bad for their health.

• In order to get the best results, you should prepare soups and stews during this period. Not only will they be able to take these in order to get the right amount of fluid, but it will be fun for them and they will have no trouble eating a whole pot of these meals every day.

• This season is also the best time for those who are very fond of dried fruits and nuts. In this case, they should drink plenty of water in addition to this type of food.

• Salty foods should not be consumed during the winter. However, if you know that your loved ones like them, you will have to prepare them in moderation and they will have to eat them with high-fiber foods.

Vitamins and water

• The water consumption is very important in the winter because this is when it can do the most good. If you want your loved ones to stay healthy and warm, then serve them plenty of mug of hot beverages with different types of herbs added to it.

• If they do not want to drink hot drinks, then they should at least drink plenty of pure water every day. You will have to take care of their diet and see what types of food they can eat during this period.

• Remember that the cold season is the best time to consume as many vitamins as possible. If your senior loved ones don’t like taking vitamins, then you will have to make sure that you include them in the meal plan.

As the snow and ice of winter threaten to make your elderly loved ones sick, it’s vital that you prepare for what may come. Winter preparations can take a lot of time and effort, but they’re necessary when caring for an elderly loved one. By preparing ahead of time, you’ll be able to provide your loved one with a better quality of life!