The Ins and Outs to keeping your Senior Companion Safe this Winter!
This time of year is one of the most beautiful, our town becomes covered in a glistening blanket of snow and the hoarfrost twinkles, along with this beauty becomes risk, risk of slip and falls and hypothermia. It is especially important that our senior companions are safe and smart when it comes to venturing out into the cold and snowy weather, and when staying snuggled up inside too! One of the best ways to get peace of mind regarding the seniors in our lives is to reach out and get that extra help. Foothills home services offer private home care in Alberta centring on small towns in southern Alberta and home care services in Calgary including palliative care in Calgary and area.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
We see it all winter, people braving the cold, walking side by side chatting and laughing! Walking is a great low impact activity, perfect for our senior companions! However, at this time of the year, there are of course risks that come with taking an enlivening stroll, the biggie? ICE.
Slipping and falling on ice is especially dangerous for our senior companions. Between the human reaction to try and steady ourselves and the act of hitting the ground serious injury can be sustained. Rothman Orthopaedics Group lists the following common trauma’s:
Muscle sprains and ligament strains
Fractures, including spinal compression fractures
Broken bones - most commonly the wrists and hips
Concussions and other head injuries
Here are some tips offered by Integris Health to share with your senior companion regarding safety when walking in icy conditions:
Wear proper footgear with lots of traction
Take smaller steps when walking in winter conditions and walk slowly
If you have no choice but to walk on ice, take short shuffling steps, bend slightly to make sure your center of gravity is over your feet and be prepared to fall
IF YOU DO FALL
Avoid using your arms to catch yourself.
Try to land on your thigh, buttocks or shoulders and roll with the fall. By rolling, the force from the fall will be more distributed throughout the body.
Try to roll backward, and tuck your head and shoulders in so that you don’t slam your head on the ground.
Unfortunately falls do happen, offering home care assistance in Calgary and the surrounding areas Foothills Home Services is there to provide the extra care needed after an incident happens. Foothills Home Services professionally certified HCA’s are available to assist with:
Simple wound care
Bed transfers, lifting, turning and walking
Medication administration
Range of motion exercises
Bundle Up!
Did you know that our senior companions are especially vulnerable to hypothermia? The body’s response to cold can lessen with medical conditions such as diabetes, some medicines including over-the-counter cold remedies, and simple ageing. This makes our responsibility to our senior loved ones so important, where a simple coat and snow boots may feel enough for us, Medicine Net recommends the elderly wear a hat, scarf, gloves, along with several layers of loose clothing to trap warm air between the layers.
** Another helpful tip to share with your senior companion - have a fully charged cell phone when you go out, and let someone know when you're going outside! (courtesy of Medicine Net)
Hypothermia is considered a risk for the elderly in the winter months even INSIDE the home. Medicine Net shares the following tips:
Set your home's thermostat to at least 68 degrees (20 Celsius)
To stay warm at home, wear long underwear under your clothes, along with socks and slippers. Use a blanket to keep your legs and shoulders warm.
Foothills Home Services offers experienced home care assistance in Calgary and surrounding areas. 24-hour live-in senior care is available to make certain your senior loved one stays warm around the clock!
Brrr, It’s Cold Outside!
Let's be honest, we live in a place where -30 temperatures are not an anomaly, in Alberta, there will be several days of the winter season that venturing outside as a senior is just not safe! Unfortunately, this can lead to several days inside the house, so it becomes important to check in on our senior companions during these times. Keeping the mind stimulated is a principal key in avoiding feelings of depression and restlessness.
Encourage your senior loved one to engage in attention to detail activities such as sudoku, scrabble or chess. ** Nowadays it is a matter-of-fact that these games will probably be played on screens, so be sure to motivate your senior companion to be aware of both tv and computer time and do activities like crocheting or completing a jig-saw puzzle!
Of course, the most important part of a healthy brain is a human connection! Why not bundle up and head over for a chat and a hot tea, or pick up the phone and remind the senior in your life that they’re loved and thought of.
We understand that it is not always possible to hop in the car, or on a plane to see your senior companion, you may be wondering if it is time for extra care and attention if they’re living alone. We are here! If you are pondering private home care in Alberta, Foothills Home Services focuses on providing home care assistance in Calgary and surrounding areas such as High River, Black Diamond, Strathmore, Vulcan and more!
Ready To Reach Out?
Are you starting to feel anxious with the winter approaching and your senior loved one being stuck inside or having a slip and fall outside? Providing private home care in Alberta for two decades Sylvia has built a strong foundation in-home care for seniors. Care providers are available for an array of tasks, whether assistance needed is as simple as grocery shopping and housekeeping or more substantial such as bathing assistance, medication administration and round-the-clock attention, there is a care plan for your senior companion! Over the last 20 years, Sylvia has been constructing the perfect approach to palliative care in Alberta, as the senior you love prepares to leave their legacy, Foothills Home Services provides palliative care in Calgary and surrounding areas. Care workers are there to ease pain and provide comfort in the place your senior loved one feels most secure.
Interested in learning more about what home care assistance or palliative care in Calgary can achieve for the senior companion in your life? Reach out and start the conversation today!
