If you live with an elderly relative at home or you're a caregiver in an elderly centre, you know how challenging it is to keep them warm when the cold weather sets in.
During this time, your top priority should be to ensure that they don't suffer from any cold illness because it might affect them severely. If you've been struggling when caring for the elderly at home or in a private facility during the cold season, here are some winter care tips to ensure they are as warm as possible until temperatures stabilize.
Ensure That They Get Vaccinated Against Seasonal Flu Before the Cold Season Sets in
The cold flu is very hazardous, and it can severely affect the health of older adults. In most cases, it causes congestion and inflammation of the nose, throat, and lungs.
That complicates the treatment process, and the elderly require specialized treatment to save their lives. Besides, treating this condition at an advanced stage might cost a significant amount of money. That is why it is advisable to ensure that the elderly get vaccinated against seasonal flu before the cold season sets in. That will reduce the risk of suffering from illnesses from cold weather and prevent their condition from worsening if they suffer from the condition.
Make Sure Your Hands Are Clean When Attending to Them
In most cases, cold flu is caused by viruses. Therefore, when caring for the elderly in their own home, maintain healthy hygiene, including making sure that your hands are clean when attending to them. That will prevent the spreading of viruses and harmful germs that might affect their health.
Buy Enough Warm Clothes for Elderly Person before the Cold Season Starts
As the cold season approaches, buy enough warm clothes for the elderly. That will ensure that they are adequately prepared for any eventuality. In some seasons, temperatures drop to uncontrollable levels, and it sometimes comes with unpredictable consequences.
Therefore, buying warm clothes is the best strategy to keep them comfortable regardless of the severity of the weather. Some of the protective gear you should get includes a quality coat, gloves, scarves, and warm shoes. In addition, it is advisable to buy them several pairs of protective clothing to ensure they have enough to keep them warm until the cold season ends.
Protect the Elderly from fall and Injuries during the Cold Season
During the winter, walking outside the house is dangerous because the foot oaths are slippery. Moreover, the elderly are even at a higher risk of slip and fall accidents when moving around the compound at this time.
Therefore, if the orderly person you're taking care of wants to step out of the house, ensure they wear non-slip shoes to prevent them from sliding and falling. Besides, it is advisable to accompany them so that you hold their hands or assist them in moving around without risking their lives.
Regulate Temperature inside the House to Make it as Comfortable as Possible
You should ensure that the elderly are as warm as possible during winter. Therefore, even after ensuring that they have enough warm clothing, regulate temperatures inside the house to make it as comfortable as possible.
First, create a well-heated space inside the house to make the house comfortable. Then, please don't open the windows for a long time because they might allow a lot of cold inside the house.
Ensure That Aged People's Rooms Are Properly Lit
Sufficient light is very important because it stimulates good moods. Therefore, when caring for the aged, ensure that their rooms are properly lit.
Allow the Elderly to Spend Some Time Outdoors During the Sunny Hours
It is also advisable to allow the elderly to spend some time outdoors during the sunny hours. That will enable them to enjoy direct sunlight to stimulate their mental and physical health.
Observe the Their Nutrition during the Cold Season
The elderly need a special diet to boost their immunity during the cold season. Therefore, you should make sure that you include more fruits and vegetables in their meals. However, it would help if you balanced all their meals. Besides, it is advisable to give the elderly hot drinks at different times, most preferably vegetable soup.
Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Apart from taking properly balanced meals, older people need to take plenty of water throughout the day. Besides, it is advisable to ensure that they don't take alcohol or beverages that contain caffeine because they can make them lose the sensation of heat and affect their health.
When taking care of the elderly in their own homes or an elderly care centre, take the measures above to keep them warm. That will prevent them from suffering from cold illnesses that might put their lives in danger. Besides, it will make caring for the elderly easy if you're doing it for the first time.
