Is Your Loved One Ready for Winter?

As the song goes, ‘Baby, it’s cold outside.’ The temperature has dipped below zero and there is snow on the ground. Whether or not the calendar says it is officially winter, it certainly feels like it.

This is the time of the year when kids might be outside building a snowman, sledding or having snowball fights. They, and you, have your winter gear out and ready to use.

But what about your senior loved ones? Along with the cold winter months come additional hazards, especially for older adults. Are they prepared?

Here are a few senior safety tips to make sure your loved ones have a safe and healthy winter:

• Accidents While Driving.

  This time of the year the roads are icy and it gets dark very early. Anyone could have a hard time stopping. If an older adult’s reflexes are slower or if their eyesight isn’t what it used to be, it makes them even more likely to have an accident when the weather is bad. According to the CDC, 600 older adults are injured or killed in vehicular accidents every day.

What can you do?

Suggest that they only drive during the day or when the weather is clear.

Make sure their vehicle is tuned up, and their brakes and tires checked (and replaced if needed).

If they have a cell phone, even just for emergencies, make sure they keep it charged and with them in the car in case of an emergency.

• Falls.

  If anyone steps on a patch of ice or snow the wrong way, you could fall. That is even more of an issue for older adults, especially if they are unsteady on their feet. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than one in three adults over 65 years old will fall each year, with more than 1.6 million older Americans having to go to the emergency room because of falls. Studies show that there is a high correlation between cold weather and falls in older adults.

What can you do?

If your loved one lives in a house, make sure their driveway and walkways are clear of snow and ice. If you or they can’t clear it, hire someone to do it for them.

Make sure they have proper footwear for winter – boots or shoes with non-skid soles to give them better traction on a slippery surface.

If they use canes or walkers, replace the rubber tip if it is worn out.

If they don’t have to go out in cold, icy weather, then they shouldn’t. They could be said for adults and kids too!

• Snow shoveling injury.

  If your loved one is capable and in a house, they might want to get out and shovel the snow or ice from their walkways and driveway. If you have shoveled wet snow, you know that it can become very heavy very quickly. This could cause a strained back, arms, or legs; a fall; or even a heart attack.

What can you do?

Shovel the snow for them. It’s a little extra exercise for you and it takes the burden away from your loved one.

If you can’t shovel for them and they, or you, can afford it, pay someone else to shovel the snow.

If they choose to shovel, make sure they have a good, ergo dynamic shovel or even a snow blower (if they are comfortable using it).

Ask them to take breaks when shoveling so they don’t get too winded.

Make sure they shovel correctly, bending from their knees, not from their back.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our goal is to provide our clients with the help they need to keep them safely in their own home for longer. We also provide a respite for a family caregiver who needs a break from their caregiving duties or who can’t manage all those duties by themselves any longer. We can be there for your loved one if they need to go out in the cold, icy weather so you don’t have to worry about them falling.

Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.

3 Tips to Prevent In-Home Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury death among individuals over 65 years of age, according to the CDC. Illnesses, medications and environmental factors can all affect strength and balance contributing to a fall. If someone you love has fallen once, there is data to suggest that 75% of those who fall, do so again within 6 months. Beginning at the age of 63, the number of deaths from falls starts to increase with dramatic increases at the age of 70. But shouldn’t we expect seniors to fall as they age due to balance and strength conditions? In fact, falls are not a normal part of the aging process. They can be prevented.

Assisting Hands has some timely advice to help prevent in-home falls:

First: talk with your doctor about falls and about improving management of any medical conditions including reviewing medication types and amounts with your physician. Take your medications and follow medication dosages closely. Using medication incorrectly may lead to dizziness, so be especially aware of medication changes and talk with your doctor about symptoms. Most importantly, don’t stop medications without consulting your doctor!

Ask your doctor about exercise, vestibular and balance training and increasing physical activity, a good place to start is an evaluation by a Physical Therapist and Audiologist.

Second: Be sure your home is as safe as possible by changing adverse environmental factors.

Take some practical steps such as:

• Wear shoes with nonskid soles (not house slippers or sandals).
• Be sure your home is well lit in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and stairways so that you can see things you might trip over and use night lights in your bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways.
• Remove throw rugs and tack down loose carpet edges.
• Keep your floor clear, and remove electrical cords across pathways.
• Install grab bars in your bathtub, shower and toilet area.
• Install handrails on both sides of stairways.
• Don’t climb on stools and stepladders. Get someone else to help with jobs that call for climbing, such as a caregiver.
• Keep your floor clean of liquids and don’t wax your floors.

Third: Think about home care, especially if you have fallen before and have trouble getting out of bed or up from a chair. You may want to consider an in-home caregiver to help with transfers, climbing and walking (the cost of a caregiver is typically 1/3 the cost of a nursing home.) Or you may want to talk with a Physical Therapist about starting a strengthening program and home safety screen. All of Assisting Hands’ home aides are specially trained in fall prevention through the Fall Prevention Centers of America.

Illnesses, medications and environmental factors can all affect strength and balance contributing to a fall. The best predictor of a future fall is a history of falls. Talk with your doctor, begin exercising with professional guidance and consider hiring a caregiver from Assisting Hands to help with risky tasks.

Is Your Loved One Ready for Autumn?.

This is the time of year when parents load up their kids with the supplies they need to be successful in school. I may mean multiple trips to several stores. If you are a parent, you probably know what I mean! Classes, projects, after-school activities…binders, pens, paper, tablets, instruments, sports gear. The list goes on and on. But you make a list and check it off as you get your kids set for the year.

But what about your senior loved one? Even though they are not in school, you should take this time to make a list and be sure their needs are being met as well.

Here are 5 areas to check:

•  Food. It may be time to think about preparing some casseroles and soup that can be frozen for your loved one and ready for them when the weather turns colder. Even on a warm day a nice bowl of soup may be soothing. It is also time to go through the pantry and refrigerator/freezer to see what foods are old and/or expired. You don’t want your loved one to eat something that will make them sick. 
• Weight Loss or Gain. Has your loved one gained or lost weight recently? We think of weight loss as a good thing, but for an older adult sudden weight loss could point to other issues such as muscle loss, depression, medication side effects, medical conditions (like cancer or thyroid disorder), Alzheimer’s disease or even a dental problem. Some of these conditions could lead to a fall, and then there are a host of other issues to deal with! If their clothes are suddenly too tight or falling off, it may be time to schedule a doctor’s appointment to see if there is anything out of the ordinary. A little preventive care can go a long way. By the way, if they have lost or gained weight, make sure they have clothes that fit them properly. They may not ask about getting new clothes, but it is little things like that go a long way to keeping their dignity.
•  Safety. When was the last time you changed the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Why not take the time to switch them now. If the detector starts to ‘chirp’ in the middle of the night, you do not want your loved one on a step stool trying to remove a battery.
• Rugs. Have you checked the kitchen, bathrooms or hallways lately? Remove any throw rugs as they can be trip/fall hazards. Instead, make sure your loved one has house shoes with traction on the soles to keep from slipping but will still keep their feet warm.
• Bath. Make sure the non-slip surface on the shower or tub has not worn off. Also check to see if the shower or tub is clean. A dirty base can become slippery and again create a slip/fall hazard. Determine if it is time to add a grab bar to the shower for added safety.

At Assisting Hands® Home Care, our skilled caregivers will make sure the seniors in our care are eating and exercising appropriately. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at 630-305-9100. To learn more about our in home senior care, click here.