Cold, crisp, beautiful and deadly. Seniors enjoy winter as much as the next guy, but they have learned the hard way that it’s not all fun and games. Whether you are passionate about winter sports or would rather admire the first snowfall from a chair in the living room is a personal decision, but winter is winter all the same.
Winter can be a dangerous time for seniors; factor in complications from colds and flu, depression, social isolation, falls, car accidents and money worries.
Frail elderly may be afraid to leave their homes and independent seniors feel they must carry on rain or shine. Seniors who do their own chores whether carrying firewood, snow blowing driveways, trekking to the mail box or driving to the store, know that they need to be careful.
Being careful might entail:
• Acknowledging that winter can be hazardous to your health and well-being.
• Making sure that your walkways and driveways are shoveled and sanded (preferably by someone else).
• Wear footwear with good traction and avoid being outdoors in icy conditions whenever possible.
Good advice but what if it doesn’t work for you. You need to get out there: you have chores to do, places to go, and things to do. How do you handle the great outdoors?
• Bundle up.
• Be wise and hire someone else to do the shoveling, sanding, and other heavy chores.
• Keep your house comfortably heated, not too hot and not too cold
• Loneliness is a problem. Find indoor things to do, keep in touch with family and friends.
Don’t forget: You may not to be able to get to your senior center for a few days but be sure to move around. Walk around the house or put an exercise video in your DVD player. Gentle yoga, walking in place, or doing a chair exercise routine will tune you up. Pay attention to your diet. Hot chocolate and spiced cider are tasty treats but healthy meals are important.
Think of winter as a time to pamper yourself. A good book, a cozy fire, a pan of brownies in the oven…what could be better than that.
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