The Coldest Time of Year – Keeping Warm and Healthy

Tips, information and resources to ensure that during the coldest time of the year, you can stay warm and well until the warmer weather returns.

You may be elderly but still managing to live an independent life. However, it is still important that you do everything you can to stay warm and healthy throughout winter so that you can remain independent for as long as possible. Winter provides challenges for all of us, but especially the elderly.

Beware Of Slips And Falls

To stay warm and healthy in winter, one of the most important things you can do is work to prevent slipping or falling both in the house and outdoors. Black ice and snow are incredibly dangerous, particularly because the prognosis after a fall is not good for older people. A study by the Live-in Care Hub showed that unfortunately, 50% of people who suffer a fractured hip do not return home, and 1 in every 12 people who suffer a hip break will unfortunately pass away as a result of their injury. Staying strong by doing strengthening exercises and resistance exercises will help you avoid trips and falls. Using mobility aids, and using routes that are not slippery will also help.

Stay Warm

As well as avoiding falls, it is also important to avoid getting too cold in winter. If you are worried about paying heating bills, please do look into benefits that can help you pay. There are also other ways to stay warm in your home, such as wearing layered clothes, using hot water bottles and drinking hot drinks, and eating hot meals. And when you go out, you should take extra care to wear warm clothes.

Eat Well

It is so important to support your body in later life. Nutrition can be tricky as you need the same nutrients, but fewer calories. Do speak to your GP about nutrition and have a blood test done to check for vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Most importantly, keep plenty of nutritional meals in your home such as tins of stew or soup and frozen meals so if the weather does take a turn for the worst, you will have plenty of hot food to eat.

Get The Flu Jab

The flu jab is free if you are over 65 or if you have certain medical conditions. There has been a rise in flu related deaths over the last few years so it is worth getting the jab to protect you from this nasty condition if you haven’t already done do.

Do You Need More Support?

If you require some support at home and aren’t coping as well as you would like in winter, or all year round, perhaps it is time to consider some help in the home. With home care services you can still live independently, but with support provided by a trained carer who can help you with chores, personal care, mobility, nutrition and more in winter or all year round, to help you maintain the quality of life you deserve.