Winter Safety Tips for Senior Adults

Winter Safety Tips for Senior AdultsWinter Safety Tips for Senior Adults

 

The cold winter months bring snowfall, ice, declining temperatures, and slippery sidewalks. All of this can make life challenging with many potential risks, especially for seniors. To help you cope up with the weather conditions and related changes, the experts from our skilled nursing facility in Providence have created a list of essentials to keep in mind.

6 Useful Tips to Ensure Safety During Winter

  1. Beware of Icy Sidewalks
    Snowy pathways and roads make slips and accidents quite common. These can lead to severe injuries and complications such as head trauma and fractures. Try to stay inside as much as possible, and make sure to wear shoes with non-skid soles and good traction.
  2. Wear Warm Clothes
    Cold temperatures often lead to hypothermia and frostbite that occurs when too much heat escapes the body, leading to low body temperature. It is important to dress warmly in order to avoid such medical emergencies and keep these things in mind:

    • Wear layered clothes.
    • Wear a heavy coat, gloves or mittens, warm socks, and a hat.
    • Use a warm scarf to cover your mouth and protect your lungs.
    • Make sure to cover exposed skin when going outside.
    • Your body temperature should not dip below 95 degrees.
  3. Be Aware of Wintertime Depression
    Since it becomes difficult to get around in the cold months, you may not have much contact with your friends and the outside world. This can make you feel isolated and lonely. You could develop a hobby to keep yourself engaged and stay in contact with your family and friends via regular phone calls until the weather conditions improve.
  4. Prepare for Power Outages
    Winter storms often cause problems with electricity connections, leading to power outages. Preparing for such times can be helpful.

    • Make sure that flashlights are accessible.
    • Have a battery-powered radio handy.
    • Keep a supply of non-perishable foods in case of prolonged outages.
    • Make sure to keep your essential medications where you can get to them.
  5. Eat a Varied, Balanced Diet
    Spending more time indoors can lead to nutritional deficits, especially Vitamin D. Be sure to have a balanced diet with all the essential nutrients. You could also consult a professional to learn what constitutes a good diet for you.
  6. Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
    The cold weather leads to increased use of a gas heater, fireplace, and lanterns. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep a carbon monoxide detector handy and make sure to have new batteries as a replacement.

We Take Good Care of the Residents in Our Nursing Homes

At our retirement community in Rhode Island, we strive to provide a homey atmosphere for you. We have a dedicated team to cater to your needs and serve you with the dignity and love that you deserve. We also offer short term rehabilitation for seniors who have survived illness and undergone surgery. We provide the following to ensure a comfortable stay:

  • Serving fresh home-cooked meals
  • Organizing activities to promote physical and mental well-being
  • Conducting fun events and games
  • Having ice cream socials and birthday parties
  • Celebrating festivals such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more
  • Organizing arts and crafts workshops

For more information about our facility and retirement residences near Providence, Rhode Island, please reach out to us by calling 401-765-1440. You could also take a virtual tour to learn more about us.

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