Many people don’t like winter very much. The weather is cold and dark, and the days are much shorter. It can cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or, at the very least, make people feel down. Spring is something to look forward to, for sure.
The winter can be even harder to deal with if you have to take care of elderly family members. People who are older tend to have a weaker immune system, thinner skin, fragile bones and more conditions that require regular medication. This means that they are more likely to get bugs, feel colder, and break bones more easily.. Keeping all this in mind, here are some ways to make sure your older relatives are comfortable this winter.
Find A Care Home
Even though not every elderly will do well in a care home, for some, it is the best place to go, and winter may be the time when you and they both realise it’s time to start asking questions about where the best place for them really is.
If their own home is hard to keep warm, costs a lot to keep warm, and could be dangerous, finding the right care home is a great idea. You can be sure that if they live in a care home, their care notes will be accurate and up to date, they will be cared for, kept warm, and won’t have to deal with any dangers. No longer does winter have to be a scary time. As we said, this won’t be the right move for everyone, and it might be seen as somewhat extreme, but for some, it can help immensely.
Keep The House Warm
One of the most essential things you can do for an elderly loved one is to keep their homes warm throughout the harsh winter months. The first item to inspect is the boiler – is it operating properly? If this is the case, you can set a timer to turn on the heating before your older family member gets out of bed in the morning, keeping their homes warm. If the boiler isn’t working right, it should be fixed so that it works as well as possible; it might even be worth replacing it, especially as there are grants available. Speak to the experts at All Seasons Energy to find out more.
You can also inspect the insulation in the loft and all over the house. If the insulation needs to be fixed or replaced, you should do it right away because you will lose a lot of heat if you don’t.
Keep Healthy
During the winter, your elderly loved one will also need to get some physical activity done. Moving about for at least 30 minutes a day, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time, is considerably better than hunkering down in front of the television and doing nothing. Your elderly loved one’s degree of fitness and mobility will determine how much exercise they can participate in. Since it may be icy outdoors, it’s best to stay indoors and work out there.
You must also make certain that your loved one is dressed in layers. As the heat is contained between the layers, it is considerably better at keeping people warm than bulky clothing. When it becomes too hot, people can take off some garments to feel more comfortable.
