Senior Home Care: Protecting Senior Loved Ones From the Hazards of Cold Weather

The dangers of winter are well known—broken bones and injuries from ice or snow related falls. Seniors are especially at risk for suffering fall-related injuries during the winter months, but hypothermia is a senior problem that frequently goes overlooked—every year, hypothermia kills approximately 600 Americans—the majority of them seniors age 65 and older. Senior loved ones are also vulnerable to hypothermia, a deadly drop in body temperature that’s caused by remaining in a cold place for a significant period of time.Seniors are especially prone as the body loses its ability to endure exposure to cold as it ages.



If you are providing care for a senior loved one, or if he or she lives alone, be aware that your family member may be at greater risk for hypothermia, especially if he or she has certain illnesses (including diabetes), is less active, and doesn’t generate a normal amount of body heat.A small drop in temperature and even mildly cold weather can be problematic for an elderly loved one.



Senior Home Care as a Safety Precaution for Cold-Related Illnesses



Regularly visit your loved one or ensure he or she receives senior home care, especially in colder months as a preventative measure. Ensure your loved one’s home is warm enough, with the thermostat set to at least 70 degrees—even cooler homes (temperatures from 60-65 degrees) can trigger symptoms of hypothermia in older people. If he or she appears confused, sleepy, shivering, stiffness in the limbs, weak pulse, low blood pressure, or slow and slurred speech, take their temperature. If it is registering as 96 degrees or lower, contact 911 for emergency treatment.



Senior Home Care as Prevention for Winter-Related Injuries



Rubber tips on walkers and canes can increase stability, but it’s best to encourage your loved ones to stay out of the cold—ice and snowy conditions can make traveling dangerous for elderly loved ones with poor eyesight and balance issues. Senior home care workers run errands, pick up groceries and prescriptions, drive seniors to appointments, and get them safely to their destination in the winter months.



Senior Home Care, Colds, and Flu



Elderly family members, spouses, or loved ones are also more prone to cold and flu symptoms in the cold winter months. The Center for Disease Control (also known as the CDC) reports that every year, more than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized because of the flu and 36,000 pass away. For elderly folks and older adults, cold and flu season can be very serious, and in worst cases, deadly. 90% of flu-related deaths and more than ½ of all flu-related hospitalizations occur in individuals age 65 and older. Seniors in their 70’s and 80’s are at even higher risk than those in their 60’s—immunity declines with age. This is especially important for individuals who have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, lung problems, or other serious conditions.



Remember to keep a close eye on your elderly loved ones, friends, and neighbors when it’s cold outside—the cold is hard on everyone but especially so on seniors. Senior home care can help ensure the safety of your loved ones this winter.
Senior care is one option for aging parents and loved ones as it allows them to remain safely in their homes as long as possible—caregivers visit as needed and take care of everyday tasks and services, including cleaning, running regular errands (cleaning and stocking the refrigerator), managing doctor’s appointments, and accident proofing your loved one’s home. These small steps of senior care can really ease the burden on your loved one and make a big difference in their quality of life, especially during the winter months.