During the winter months, snow, ice, and cold temperatures make life difficult for everyone. Things like icy pavement, bitter cold temperatures, and the common cold are at their peak. With the risks of falling and getting sick increased, we need to connect seniors to help if they need it.
If you’re a family member or caregiver for a senior, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan in place for the winter months ahead. Emergencies happen, and getting to healthcare appointments can be more difficult, so making a plan can help you have a more relaxed winter season.
So, if you want to get yourself and your loved ones through the winter months comfortably, you’ll need to prepare beforehand. Our team at Guardian Medical Monitoring has put together five suggestions to help you!
Icy pavement increases the chance of falling and being unable to get up. Often, falling can cause serious issues, such as bone fractures, head trauma, and lacerations. As a result, seniors should wear shoes with non-skid soles and avoid going outdoors until the pavement clears. Have someone in the family or a neighbor help salt the ground where ice has formed.
The more the temperatures drop, frostbite and hypothermia are more likely. According to the CDC, people over the age of 65 have accounted for over half of hypothermia-related deaths. When going outdoors, seniors should put on socks, a heavy coat, a hat, gloves, and a scarf. In really cold weather, seniors should avoid going outdoors as much as possible. If their body temperature has dropped below 95 degrees, seek medical help right away.
Often, power outages can result due to winter storms. To prepare for an outage, make sure your loved ones already have a flashlight with extra batteries, a portable cell phone charger, blankets and winter clothes, a case of water, and dry or canned food. Additionally, seniors should have a proper first aid kit, their medications organized, and plenty of household supplies and personal hygiene items ready to go. Take the time now to stock them up before the weather gets too cold and snowy.
Due to the inclement weather and more dangerous road conditions, depression tends to increase in seniors during the winter months. Therefore, this can limit social activity, leaving seniors feeling lonelier and more isolated than usual. To help remedy this issue, family members can check in on their loved ones with a phone call at least once per day. Family members or caregivers can also arrange a check-in system where a close neighbor stops by and checks in on that person daily. Even if the phone calls or visits are brief, there will be many benefits for overall social health.
With all the necessities stocked up and ready for the winter, there are even more resources seniors can use that can save their life during an emergency. The technology of Guardian’s medical alert systems, such as a help button pendant or bracelet, allows seniors to call for help if they slip and fall at home. Plus, these devices have sensors that detect a fall when it happens. So, if seniors are unable to respond to medical dispatch, help will be on the way automatically.
During the winter months, the most essential thing to remember is to encourage seniors to seek help. They should feel free to call a family member or neighbor for support, hire a service to plow snow or clear icy pavement, and have plenty of household supplies and nutritious food. Additionally, with the help of medical alert systems and help buttons, seniors can live comfortably knowing Guardian Medical Monitoring connects them to emergency help 24/7.
Winter may be difficult for seniors, but with so many resources available to them, they can stay healthy and enjoy the benefits of springtime sooner rather than later.
About Guardian Medical Monitoring
Since 1999, Guardian Medical Monitoring has helped people be comfortable in their homes by surrounding them with life-saving tools and unmatched support. Our team not only has experience in all aspects of care, but we also know how to keep families and their loved ones safe, especially during the winter. Our team continues to go the extra mile to ensure our medical alert systems are foolproof and provide you with the confidence you need.
For more information about our medical alert systems or any of our other products and services, head to our website or give Guardian a call at 1.888.349.2400.
Independence is something that everyone deserves. However, for some people, […]
More than half of the population in the United States […]
