Elder Care Tips For Preparing Your Senior Loved One for The Cold Winter Days and Nights Ahead

By Jamie Shapiro | November 27, 2014 | Comments Off on Elder Care Tips For Preparing Your Senior Loved One for The Cold Winter Days and Nights Ahead

“Warm Enough?” Elder Care and Keeping the Patient Warm this Winter In Deerfield, IL

Already across most of the country, cold temperatures have reached as far south as Florida. In fact, subzero temperatures affected significant portions of the Sunshine State and far colder temperatures have struck across the Midwest and the Northeast. When it comes to elder care, it’s important to make sure that the elderly patient is safe at home.

  • This includes ensuring that they are warm throughout the winter.

Just looking at Buffalo can give us an indication about how serious winter can be and this happened in November. There are still at least four months of bone chilling cold, snow, and even freezing rain to come to most of the country.

Keeping the elderly patient warm is not a very complicated process, but it does take some foresight, understanding about risks, and paying attention to the forecast. While it may warm up for some time in the next few weeks, that doesn’t mean the elderly patient should leave his or her coat at home, or even their gloves and scarf.

  • Evaluate the long range forecast.

Home care for the elderly will basically pay attention to weather forecasts on a regular basis. They should know whether the temperatures will be climbing or dipping for the next several days.

The more you pay attention to the long range forecast, the more you can be aware of certain potential serious risk, such as a polar vortex coming down out of Canada to bring frigid temperatures along with it.

  • Keep extra blankets on hand.

You should always have at least one extra comforter or heavy blanket for the patient not only in their bedroom, but also in the living room or other location in the house where they like to spend time. If they feel as though they are getting too cold, they can grab this blanket and wrap it around themselves.

  • Have the furnace or heating system maintained on a regular basis.

You should always encourage the elderly patient to call in an HVAC technician to service the furnace every year. This will help to reduce the risk of failure during the coldest time of year. If it fails during a cold snap, it could be days or even weeks before somebody can get out to repair it.

  • Check the fuel for the furnace.

If the elderly patient uses heating oil, they need to make sure the tank is full at all times. This will help them avoid running out when it is needed most.

These are just a few elder care tips that can help keep the patient warm this winter.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Deerfield, IL, -contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786.

Our senior 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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