5 Senior Care Tips for Keeping Seniors Warm During Wisconsin’s Winter
When the temperatures begin to drop during the winter months, it’s imperative that your senior loved ones stay warm. Although you may feel warm and toasty, a senior’s aging skin is thinner and thus less protective against colder weather. Therefore, you must take additional steps to ensure that they remain comfortable—even when Jack Frost is knocking at their door.
This becomes even more important when considering that the state of Wisconsin experiences some of the coldest winters around. As a result, senior care in Wisconsin poses additional challenges that families and caretakers alike must face. Do not allow your seniors to suffer during winter. Instead, follow these five tips for at-home care for seniors, and learn how to keep the cold out.
Ensure the Home Is Properly Heated
Of course, you should begin by making sure that the home is adequately heated. If you enter your loved one’s home and the air is chilly, turn on the heater. If the heater is broken, suggest repairs. Some seniors may have dementia or other forms of cognitive decline that hinder their memory. Thus, you are responsible for turning the heater on and off and keeping them warm.
Insulate Drafty Doors and Windows
Poorly insulated doors and windows can let in drafts that reduce a home’s warmth, even with the heater running. As elderly individuals already do not handle the cold very well, a slight draft can become a big problem. In this instance, consider caulking and insulating any exposed entry points to reduce drafts and keep your relative warm.
Dress the Senior In Layers and Incorporate Socks and Blankets
The Wisconsin winters can be unbearably cold, which makes the use of layers very important. When dressing your senior loved one, layer clothing items on top of one another. For example, rather than a sweater and jeans, layer several tops and perhaps even a robe for colder days.
Additionally, as individuals age, their blood circulation begins to falter, which results in cold feet. A pair of thick socks can quickly solve this issue. Furthermore, if your relative continues to complain about the cold, wrap a blanket over their legs.
Keep the Senior Nourished and Hydrated
Senior home care includes maintaining healthy diets geared toward the individual senior’s needs. During the winter, proper nourishment and hydration can make a big difference in how your loved one handles the cold. When an elderly individual is hungry or dehydrated, their internal heat and energy sources can deplete. For this reason, it’s your job as a caretaker to maintain a complete, nourishing diet for those in your care.
Be Aware of Temperature-lowering Medications
All of these tips are useless if you’re unaware of any temperature-altering medications your elderly loved one is taking. When familiarizing yourself with your senior’s daily medications, you should also research the corresponding side effects. There are many medications that can lower one’s body temperature, which doesn’t pair well with already frigid temperatures. If your relative does use such medications, then compensate by turning up the heat or adding more layers of clothing.
Allow Our Team to Take Care Of Your Loved Ones
At A Better Solution In Home Care, our staff cares for patients as they would their own mothers and fathers. We understand the unique needs of every patient, and we strive to provide comprehensive plans that represent those needs.
We offer extensive and personalized senior care services with one goal in mind: increasing your loved one’s quality of life. If you’re considering Wisconsin senior care for your elderly loved one, contact us so we can begin discussing your options.
