Winter Advice For The Elderly
As wonderful as wintertime can be, from snowy scenes to festive gatherings, the colder months can also bring worry for the elderly, as lower temperatures can mean severe health problems and complications for an older person. Our immune systems typically weaken as we age, and are less able to fight off viruses. With age, typcally, the elderly experience:
- A reduced ability to regulate body temperature
- Be more vulnerable to the cold if you’re already experiencing chronic illness and taking multiple medications
- Vulnerability to the cold for those who have poor nutrition
- Be more likely to remain inactive at home
There are however, a few practical things you can do to look after yourself ahead of the winter:
1. Stay up-to-date With Vaccinations
Gov.uk state that the ‘flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It’s a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly.’ We believe that the best way to avoid catching and spreading the flu virus is by having the vaccination ahead of flu season starting. The flu jab is available to those who are aged 65+. The gov.uk website also mentions, ‘from mid-October 2022 everyone aged 50 to 64 years old will also be eligible for flu vaccination.’
2. Regular Movement
It is highly recommended to make sure you stay active as often as possible. Light physical activity every hour will help to maintain strength and mobility. Examples of light activity include cleaning. dusting, vacuuming or making a cup of tea. Benefits of regular movement include:
- Build energy levels up to help maintain muscle mass
- Being active also reduces the risk of several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks and cardiovascular disease
- Improve mental health by reducing stress and calm the mind
For those who experience limited mobility, the NHS have provided a video showing easy-to-follow chair based exercises.
3. Eat Regularly & Stay Hydrated
As stated by britishseniors.co.uk, ‘eating lots of nutritious foods can help with your energy levels, allowing you to be more active. Maintaining a healthy diet doesn’t just affect our physical health, the food we eat can also affect our mood.’ Benefits of eating regularly staying hydrated include:
- Helping older people stay warm
- Good nutrition provides the body with energy
- It can also help prevent some diseases, such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes
The NHS has provided a useful this list of top tips for Healthy Eating.
4. Stay Warm Indoors
Ways to retain heat indoors include:
- Closing the curtains earlier than usual
- Blocking out the draughts with draught excluders
- Instal thermostatic radiator valves
- Wrap up with a shawl or electric blanket when sitting
- Put your feet up on a footstool when sitting as air is cooler at ground level
- If it’s particularly cold due to bad weather, wear thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat to bed
- Use a hot water bottle when sitting/laying
- A hot water bottle can also be used to pre-heat a chair or the bed ahead of using it
5. Prevent Germ Spreading
It’s always a good idea to wash your hands regularly with soap and water is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent spreading germs. We also recommend regularly using antibacterial hand gel. According to nhs.uk, ‘washing your hands properly removes dirt, viruses and bacteria to stop them spreading to other people and objects, which can spread illnesses such as food poisoning, flu or diarrhoea. It can help stop people picking up infections and spreading them to others.’
Creakyjoints.org have provided a helpful graphic showing how to wash your hands effectively:
6. Boost Your Vitamin D Intake
Our bodies produces vitamin D as a response to sun exposure, which naturally decreases during the winter months and shorter days. We recommend you boost your Vitamin D intake through certain foods or supplements, such as salmon, orange juice fortified with vitamin D, eggs, yoghurt and cereals. It is suggested that those aged 65 and over are at a higher risk of not getting enough vitamin D, due to a reduction in the time spent outdoors. Age UK state “it's recommended that over-65s take a supplement of vitamin D of 10 micrograms per day”.
7. Stay Warm When Outside
It is important we stay warm when outside during the colder months. As well as wearing warm clothes such as gloves and a wooly hat, we recommend covering your mouth with a scarf when temperatures drop. Cold feet can also trigger a rise in blood pressure, so select footwear that has a warm lining, or wear thermal socks. Wearing multiple thin layers of clothing rather than a thick layer is more effective at keeping warm due to the layers trapping warm air between them.
8. Seek Support & Advice
We recommend sticking to your usual daily routine as much as possible. When it becomes unsafe to go outdoors and visit friends or family, you can try phoning or video calling them instead. Should you need additional support and advice, there are a number of places to reach out to:
Age UK Advice: 0800 169 65 65
Lines are open seven days a week from 8am to 7pm.
The National Careline: 0800 0699 784
The National Careline provides help and assistance by way of our free helpline and website that offers lots of advice and information relevant to the needs and aspirations of older people.
https://www.thenationalcareline.org
GOV.UK
Government website of services and information that includes advice on taking care of yourself in winter, as well information on the cold weather payment and winter fuel payment available to those of a certain age or for those who are on benefits.
NHS Website
Web-based information about NHS services, healthy living and health conditions.
Support at Valerian Court Care Home
Valerian Court Care Home is a purpose-built care home situated in the railway town of Didcot, Oxfordshire, offering around-the-clock care and support for Residential, Nursing, Dementia and Respite needs. Our warm and inviting home provides access to an enriched quality of life where residents are able to live happy and healthy, free from the stresses of day-to-day life.
Residing at Valerian Court means you no longer need to worry about the dreaded heating bills come the winter months. The rising energy costs are one of the main causes of inflation, according to the BBC. Living in a care home will provide older adults with peace of mind and eliminate all worries associated with paying bills.
Our helpful and friendly team is on hand to provide expert advice and welcome you to get in touch today if you are concerned about a loved one’s health, or are in interested in moving to a care home yourself.
