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How to Keep Seniors Safe During Cold Weather
Written by Jeff Anderson
about the author
1 minute readLast updated April 10, 2023
Overnight low temperatures across the country, from Boston to Seattle and everywhere in between, are forecast to be below freezing often during winter months. Icy cold weather like this puts seniors at risk, so it’s important to pay special attention to their well being during this time. Learn more about how to keep seniors safe during cold weather.
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Keeping seniors safe during cold weather this winter
Elderly people with poor health are especially vulnerable to extremes in temperature, especially cold weather like that which occurs during winter months. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can add to the risk when seniors don’t remember to dress appropriately or take measures to keep warm. In the case of cold weather, seniors even risk hypothermia in their own homes in cases when the temperature falls below about 60 degrees, says Jennifer Tapner, a registered nurse at an assisted living community in Philadelphia, who was quoted in a recent CBS article.
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For this reason, experts recommend that during periods of cold weather:
- Caregivers and neighbors keep a particularly watchful eye on seniors who live alone.
- Family members of seniors should make sure that their loved ones’ houses are warm enough, and that they have enough blankets.
- Neighbors should offer to take out the trash for seniors in the neighborhood so that they don’t risk slipping in the ice.
- Seniors should look into home delivery services for prepared food, groceries, prescriptions, and more.
- Consider supplying your parents with a generator to fuel their home in the event of a power outage.
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