Cold Weather and Health Issues

By Jamie Shapiro | March 11, 2021 | Comments Off on Cold Weather and Health Issues

Cold weather can be a serious problem for your aging family member, particularly if she already has existing health issues. The health issues can be exacerbated greatly by the cold weather, making your elderly family member even more uncomfortable than she already was. Here are just a few of the concerns that you need to be aware of during colder weather. 

Diabetes

 Caregiver Glenview, IL: Winter Health Issues

Diabetes affects more of your senior’s life than she expects, especially if her glucose levels are extremely high. One of the ways this is a problem during colder weather is that diabetes can affect circulation and feeling in extremities. This can be extremely dangerous, exacerbating issues with cold extremities and potential frostbite. 

Heart Problems 

Heart problems can also be a bigger problem during cold weather because of circulation. The harder your senior’s heart is having to work in order to keep blood flowing to her extremities, the worse for her overall. Talk to your senior’s doctor about how her heart health can worsen in cold weather. 

Thyroid Issues 

Thyroid issues, both underactive and overactive thyroid, can cause problems for your senior when it comes to maintaining her body temperature. This is often a problem as people grow older anyway, but thyroid difficulties make it all worse. If her thyroid does normalize, your senior’s issues might also go away in terms of regulating her body temperature. 

Arthritis 

With arthritis, your senior’s joints already ache and cause serious pain. But as they are exposed to cold, those joints tighten up even more. Cold weather can also cause old injuries that contribute now to arthritis to flare up. Warming the affected area can help, but many people with arthritis find that their condition flares up even when they’re warm inside. 

Dementia 

The big concern with cold weather and dementia is the potential for your senior to wander off. If she does, she may do so without the proper clothing and outerwear on. That can be incredibly dangerous and is something that you need to avoid if at all possible. Securing exterior doors can help quite a bit. 

In many cases, it’s a good idea to have a caregiver available for your senior during cold weather in particular. There are usually special considerations for older adults when the weather is much colder, whether she has to be outside in it at all or not. Having that extra layer of help is immensely helpful.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering a Caregiver in Glenview, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas. 

Jamie Shapiro
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