Winter weather is here! While we all love watching the pretty snowfall, winter can be a hazardous time when seniors who are living alone need to venture out. The cold brings with it snow and ice, not to mention temperatures that may tax the pipes and boilers in an older home. Falling is the Achilles heel of every aging senior, and aging bones and muscles just don’t bounce back like they did when we were younger. They don’t bounce at all!
Winter is a time of
additional anxiety on the part of the children of elder parents who are living
alone. If you haven’t already, take the time to go through mom and dad’s home
(inside and out!) and make sure it’s ready and safe for colder temperatures.
Here’s a checklist to follow when winterizing your senior loved one’s home,
from our assisted living team in Gloucester
County.
Make sure the home
is heated and well-insulated. First and foremost, mom and dad’s thermostat should be set to at least
68 degrees during the day or even a bit higher, depending on their preference.
Seniors perceive the cold differently than younger folks, so it’s not uncommon
to find that Mom isn’t comfortable until the temperature is set to 74F! Of
course, showing her the heating bill may help her reconcile to a cooler
thermostat setting…(-: It’s also important to have any questionable
cracks repaired to ensure proper insulation within the home. If you haven’t
yet, you should also have their heating system checked. It’s recommended for
furnaces, boilers, and chimneys to be serviced at least once a year to clear
any buildup and to keep them running smoothly through the cold season
especially.
Prevent falls
caused by snow and ice. Most
likely, your senior parent should not be shoveling the whole driveway and
walkways on their own anymore. Shoveling is hard and strenuous work, especially
for a senior who may already have mobility or health issues. The snow and
sneaky black ice underneath can cause anyone to fall if they’re not paying
close enough attention. Help mom or dad out this winter and keep their driveway
and nearby sidewalks clear of ice and snow yourself, or hire a reliable local
high school kid to do it. This is also a good time to hire someone if your
parents’ steps or handrails need repairing. Fixing any structural issues will
further ensure mom or dad’s safety when going outside this winter.
Keep a big bag of
melting salt by the front door too. If you can get your parents to remember to
throw salt on the walkway after it’s shoveled, that will go a long way to
preventing slips and falls. If they are still driving, make sure a clear salted
path exists from their door to their car, and/or their mailbox.
Take extra steps to
avoid freezing pipes. If
the pipes in mom and dad’s home aren’t properly cared for this time of year,
they could burst – which in turn causes a domino effect of other costly
repairs. Protect against frozen pipes by insulating those that could be susceptible
to freezing. When experiencing severe temperature drops, remind your senior
parents to keep warm water running in a few faucets to guard against freezing
and bursting. You could also consider having an emergency pressure release
valve installed within their plumbing system. This can add an extra layer of
protection against increased pressure caused by freezing pipes.
Keeping seniors
safe and warm at our assisted living community in Pitman, NJ
When the health and
safety risks of alone outweigh the benefits of owning a home, it may be time
for your senior family member to consider moving into an assisted living community. At UMC at Pitman, we understand that many seniors
initially resist the idea because they view themselves as capable and
independent. However, the preconceived notions they have about living in
assisted living are outdated and no longer true! UMC residents can retain their
individuality, continue pursuing their hobbies and interests, and are
encouraged to live independently, all within a safe, secure and comfortable
environment.
For more information
about our assisted living services at UMC at Pitman in Gloucester County,
please contact us today or visit our website at: https://pitman.umcommunities.org/
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