Winter season can bring many healthcare challenges for elder persons, especially those with mobility issues or those who are homebound. Due to a weaker immune system, older people are vulnerable to illnesses in winters. For elderly care in Winters, a doctor suggests that some safety tips to ensure that they stay healthy and do not fall prey to cold weather-related ailments.
Here are some safety tips for keeping elderly care in winters safe and healthy during the winter months.
Track your medicines and meals:
Stock emergency resources in your home on all essential medicines and consume small meals throughout the day to keep yourself fueled and healthy with energy. Eat food rich in vitamins such as citrus fruits and green vegetables and which make the skin more resilient and less prone to dryness. If you do not feel thirsty, keep yourself hydrated with 8-10 glasses of water even.
Stay active and try safe exercises at home:
Elderly care in winters, nourish with low-impact exercises that pump up blood and provide warmth to the heart. It gets difficult to move out of bed during this cold weather, but engage in routine exercises like yoga and walking. You could do it in the afternoon also when the winter sun is upon you. This aids balance and coordination. Exercise also involves mind games such as Ludo, Sudoku, Chess to keep oneself occupied.
Don’t miss your vaccines:
Winter brings with it a higher chance of catching the flu or cold, thereby making it important to get all the flu shots on time. There are many vaccines available for older people. All elderly above the age of 65 years should routinely be vaccinated for pneumonia and flu. Flu vaccine should be given yearly in November or December. After the age of 65 years, the pneumonia vaccine is given once. People younger than 65 years of age with comorbid medical conditions should also be vaccinated like people with kidney problems, lung problems, liver problems, smokers, diabetics, or patients with weakened immunity like HIV. Do ask about the vaccine when you visit your family doctor.
Keep yourself insulated:
Older people who have cardiovascular conditions may experience increased side effects in the cold. To ensure that your house, if not centrally heated, has hot-water and heaters and always. Wear your woolens especially caps and mittens. During winters, the skin tends to become thinner, hence, it is imperative to wear lightweight layers. Humidifiers in the house is a great way to keep the consume clean air and air moisturized. This also helps you to keep cracking and redness of the skin at bay
Skincare:
Often we ignore the importance of sunscreens. Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to skin discoloration and skin irritation. So, wear a sufficient amount of sunblock before stepping out.