Senior Winter Safety Guide

Every year when the weather turns, seniors face a greater risk of everything from hypothermia to slips and falls to car accidents. This senior winter safety guide is an essential resource for anyone over 65 and caregivers for our senior population.

Part 3: How to Prevent Slips and Falls in Winter Weather

These icy and snowy conditions put us all at high risk of slipping and falling. Occupational Therapists recommend routine exercise year-round to help with stability and balance to reduce falls, but there are some other important precautions you can take, or if you are a caregiver, you can provide for your senior loved ones.

• Ensure that all walkways are clear before you walk. Beware of wet pavements that could be iced over.
• Shovel away snow and salt your walkways at home or hire someone to do it regularly so you can rest assured when icy days surprise you.
• Wear boots with non-skid soles – this will prevent you from slipping.
• If you use a cane, remember to replace the rubber tip (before it is worn smooth)
• Try out an ice pick-like attachment that fits onto the end of the cane for additional traction.
• Clean up clutter on your front porch or yard so that the route from your home to your car or sidewalk is clear and safe all year round.
• Consider carrying some kitty litter or sand in a bag to take with you on your walk and toss on the icy ground in front of you.
• Always bring a cell phone with you so should a fall occur; you can call for help.

If a fall does happen, stay calm. Do not get up right away or let anyone help you up immediately as this could pose risk of further injury. Take a few moments to assess how you are feeling, then if you can safely move, roll to one side, bend your knees towards your body and push yourself up with your arms. If you’re unable to or feel as though it’s unsafe to stand up, call someone or ask a passerby to call for help.

If you feel like you or your loved one requires more regular support to stay safe in the winter, it might be time to consider retirement living, where shoveling, salting, and safety precautions are taken care for you. Contact our team today to learn more about the transition to retirement living.

Senior Winter Safety Guide

Every year when the weather turns, seniors face a greater risk of everything from hypothermia to slips and falls to car accidents. This senior winter safety guide is an essential resource for anyone over 65 and caregivers for our senior population. 

Part 2: Winter Driving Tips

Did you know that adults over 65 are involved in more car crashes per mile driven than those in other age groups? Snow, ice, and dark nights make operating any kind of vehicle in the winter months a scary endeavor.

“In 2017, nearly 30 per cent of collisions reported to the National Collision Database happened on wet, snowy or icy roads. One third happened in January, February, November and December” – Government of Canada

Winter road conditions can be extremely dangerous, and we recommend taking these precautions before hopping in the driver’s seat:

• “Winterize” your car early by putting on winter tires, stocking up on windshield washer fluid, antifreeze and snow brushes and ice scrapers.
• Bring your cell phone anytime you drive, especially in bad weather, while also letting people know that you are heading out.
• Check highway conditions online or by calling 511 before you leave, and if conditions are poor, reschedule your plans.
• Clear all the snow and ice from your car before you head out on the road and get others to help.
• Avoid driving on icy roads and be especially careful driving on highways, bridges. Consider alternate routes, even if it means driving a longer distance, if the more direct route is less safe. Often bigger roads are cleared of snow better than smaller roads.
• Stock your car with basic emergency supplies such as:
  • First aid kit
  • Blankets
  • Extra warm clothes
  • Booster cables
  • Windshield scraper
  • Shovel
  • Tow strap
  • Rock salt or a bag of sand or cat litter (in case your wheels get stuck)
  • Water and dried food or canned food (with can opener!)
  • Flashlight
  • Map (if traveling in new areas)
• Keep an eye on the weather report and temperature. Transport Canada suggests that black ice is present on roads between 4 degrees Celsius and –4 degrees Celsius and can appear on roads, bridges and overpasses all day and night. They also affirm that snow and ice are more slippery at 0 degrees Celsius than at –20 or below!

Bookmark this page and pull it up on the next blustery day so you can review our dos and don’ts’ when it comes to winter driving before you hit the road.

Senior Winter Safety Guide

Every year when the weather turns, seniors face a greater risk of everything from hypothermia to slips and falls to car accidents. This senior winter safety guide is an essential resource for anyone over 65 and caregivers for our senior population.

Part 1: 10 Tips to Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia

Getting older and feeling colder? There’s some actual science behind that. The older we get, the faster our bodies lose heat and the less likely we are to be aware of how cold we are. As a result, seniors are more at risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature gets under 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and can trigger health problems such as heart attack, kidney problems and liver damage. Many people don’t know that hypothermia can also happen indoors when it’s very cold. Here are the top 10 tips to avoid frostbite and hypothermia in the cold winter months.

Layer clothing: Wear breathable (cotton, wool) clothes, including thermal underwear, undershirt, track suits, sweaters, snowsuits, winter boots, hats, mittens, and scarves.

Cover exposed skin: Exposed skin can become frostbitten in as little as 30 seconds. Always cover exposed skin, especially when wind is a factor.

Keep moving: Try to stay mobile. Stand up and move around to allow circulation to better reach all body parts.

Blankets and portable seat/cushion: Sitting on cold pavement or concrete can increase the risk of hypothermia. Sitting on a blanket or portable seat will limit the risk.

Drink fluids: Dehydration can occur even when the temperature is below freezing. Hot chocolate is a great way to stay hydrated.

Avoid alcoholic beverages: Alcohol diminishes the body’s ability to feel the cold.

Look out for the following signs of frostbite and call 911 if you are experiencing any of these: ale grey, waxy textured skin, numbness, and localized pain, swelling and blistering, and signs of hypothermia such as confusion, lethargy, weakness, apathy, or pale skin colour.

There’s a common assumption that older adults are more at risk of getting injured when they leave their home; however, the reality is the complete opposite. Most falls, accidents, and injuries to the elderly happen in their own home, despite it being the place they’re most comfortable in. Often, your parent is so used to their surroundings that they aren’t necessarily as vigilant as they should be.

If you’ve decided that your parent is capable enough to continue living in their own home, here are a few tips on how to safeguard their health.

• Print emergency numbers and keep them handy; such as, 911, your phone number, another family member’s number, and your parent’s doctor’s number. This helps them easily know what to dial if they’re in a rush, instead of trying to remember.
• Ensure that all medications are in their original containers so that your parent doesn’t mix up their pills and end up taking more or less than they should.
• Install grab bars and non-slip mats in bathrooms to prevent the risk of falls and set the thermostat to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid getting scalded by hot water.
• Check batteries in fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year.
• Tape all rugs to the floor so they don’t shift when being walked on or put down non-slip carpet liners. Carpets should never be placed at the bottom or top of stairs.
• Clear your home of debris or tripping hazards.
• If your parent must use the stairs, make sure that they are lined with non-slip carpeting.
• Buy a special alarm that your parent can wear as a bracelet or necklace in case they fall and are unable to get up and get help. The alarm automatically places a call to emergency services.

Aging at home can be extremely important to seniors who are still safe and capable to do so. The risk of aging at home is loneliness and isolation. As their caregiver, it will be up to you to ensure that they are still engaging with friends and family, still participating in brain boosting activities like puzzles or crosswords, and still exercising and maintaining mobility. Should you feel it is time for your loved one to enter a retirement facility, our team at Carefor is here to help provide affordable retirement care that feels just like home.