Even if your elderly family member lives in a warm area year-round, there are winter challenges that she faces. Sometimes that could involve weather, but more often it involves just helping her to be prepared.
Stock up on Non-perishable Staples
Companion Care at Home Glen Cove, NY: Winter Safety Tips
Non-perishable foods, like canned soup, are a great option for your senior when the weather starts to get iffy. They’re a great choice if the power goes out because your senior doesn’t have to worry about them going bad. And they’re easy to heat up with alternatives, like natural gas or even a grill if your senior has one and is comfortable using it.
Talk to Her Doctor and Pharmacist about Plans for Medication
If the weather gets really bad, that might make it difficult for your senior to pick up her medications when she needs them. Talk with her doctor about how she can stock up a bit on medications that she needs. Also talk with the pharmacy. More and more offer free delivery these days, or they may have other options available to help her to keep medication on hand.
Also Talk to Her Doctor about Vaccinations
Something else to talk about with your senior’s doctor is whether vaccinations like the pneumonia, flu, and even shingles shots are a good idea for her. Getting those vaccines when she should helps her to avoid health issues that might be even more complicated by weather problems. The last place your senior wants to be when sick is struggling through icy weather to get to her doctor.
Put Together a Plan for Dealing with Ice and Other Winter Hazards
Even if your elderly family member doesn’t live in an area that gets a lot of winter precipitation like ice and snow, that doesn’t mean that she won’t ever encounter ice or other winter hazards. Keeping a non-hazardous ice melt on hand can keep walkways clear without shoveling, for instance. Winter storms can cause other challenges, too, ranging from power outages to other issues. Keep emergency numbers handy and keep up with weather forecasts.
Consider Companion Care at Home
Having a little extra help is always a good idea, and that’s even more important during winter for many aging adults. Home care providers can help with preparing meals, dealing with finding flashlights during a power outage, and ensuring your senior is as safe as possible. It’s also a lot easier to cope with difficult winter weather when there’s someone else there, and companion care at home can help your senior to feel less alone.
Preparing for winter challenges is always easier than having to scramble and deal with them later as an emergency.