Is Your Elderly Loved One’s Home Ready for Winter?

By Jamie Shapiro | December 2, 2015 | Comments Off on Is Your Elderly Loved One’s Home Ready for Winter?

Elderly Care in Buffalo Grove IL

With December here, there won’t be many snow-free days left to get the house prepared for winter.  If you have an elderly loved one, it is especially important that they have taken the steps to ensure a safe home this winter.  The elderly are at an increased risk of hypothermia and many are physically unable to perform certain winter tasks such as shoveling snow.  If your elderly loved ones are living on their own or with a home care aide, make sure that they have taken these steps to properly prepare their home for winter weather.

Have a Snow-Removal Plan

Designate someone to come clear the snow on a regular basis so that your elderly loved one’s driveway and walkways are always clear and safe.  If there is no one you know personally who can do this, contact a snow-removal service.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Keep an emergency kit in your elderly loved one’s home in case of power outages.  The kit should include a radio with batteries, a flashlight with batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, and warm hats and gloves.  Make sure your elderly loved one also has a list of emergency contact numbers posted near the phone so that they can easily call a friend or family member in the event of an emergency.

Get Professional Inspections

The roof, furnace, and chimney are all things that should be properly inspected by a professional each year before the onset of winter.

Create a Stockpile

Help your elderly loved one create a stockpile of necessary household items to cut down on trips to the store which can be dangerous in the winter.  Good things to stock up on are toilet paper, soap and toiletries, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, and bottled water.

Test Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be tested once a month and the batteries should be replaced once a year.  Always keep some spare batteries in the home just in case a smoke or carbon monoxide detector’s batteries die.

Keep Gas in the Car

If possible, keep a full tank of gas in the car at all times throughout the winter months.  This will ensure that the care will start when it is needed.

As always, we hope for a mild winter, but it is important to be prepared for dangerous weather.  Keep your elderly loved one’s home safe and protected from weather emergencies by following the steps outlined above.  Make sure that your loved one’s home care aide is involved in and aware of any emergency plans you create.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Buffalo Grove, 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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