COCOA offers tips to help seniors in wintertime

A dose of winter weather has already hit Central Oregon and more is sure to come. Older Americans are particularly vulnerable to complications from winter weather. For the thousands of seniors living in Central Oregon, cold winter weather may pose a number of risks, some dangerous.

Ensuring that seniors are safe and warm can help them stay independent and possibly even save a life. The Central Oregon Council on Aging provides the following guidelines for seniors during the cold winter months:

Prepare for Emergencies

Winter storms can mean power outages, resulting in loss of heat, water, and telephone services. It can also make it difficult to go out for necessary supplies.

Bring family pets indoors.
Minimize travel as much as possible.
Stock up on essential items in advance, such as food, medications and bottled water.
Keep batteries, candles, flashlights, and extra blankets on hand.
Have rock salt and sand on hand to melt ice and provide traction.
Have a corded home phone or cell phone available. Cordless home phones do not work without power.
Have a battery operated radio to keep up on weather conditions, receive instructions on what to do to keep safe, or, if necessary, receive information on evacuating.
Develop a “buddy system.” Check on your neighbors. Their heat or electricity could have gone out or they could have fallen.

Prepare the Home

Each year, seniors find themselves in homes that simply aren’t prepared for the winter months.

Check the furnace to be sure that it is in good shape and heating ducts are properly ventilated.If it needs any repairs or replacement, it is better to find out before cold weather hits.
Check for proper ventilation and supplies when using alternative heat from a fireplace, wood stove, oil heater, or space heater.
Set the thermostat above 65 degrees. Lowering the thermostat to reduce heating costs can put an elderly person at risk for hypothermia.
Winterize the house. Be sure that walls and attics are insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows. Insulate pipes near outer walls, in crawl spaces and attics that are susceptible to freezing.
Make sure the senior or caregiver knows how to shut off the water supply in case pipes burst.
Reduced sensitivity to temperature can also cause burns from too-hot water. To prevent burns set the temperature on the hot water heater to 120 degrees F or lower.
Hire someone to keep the driveway, sidewalks, and front steps shoveled and clear of ice.
Seniors’ bodies can’t eliminate carbon monoxide as quickly as younger adults so it is important to make sure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work.
Conserve energy by shutting off heat to unused areas of the home.
Staying on top of energy bills can prevent the heat from being shut off during cold weather, so it might be beneficial to have a family member monitor the senior’s finances. A level billing system that averages your energy payments equally over 12 months doesn’t save money, but it does help budgeting during the colder months and prevent the heat from being shut off.
Shift energy use from peak to off-peak times. For example, do small things like running your dishwasher after 9 p.m.
If the stove is gas with an electronic ignition, check to see if the top burners will light should the power go out.
Do not use the oven as a heat source. Carbon monoxide can build up and kill everyone in the home.
If you have an electric stove, make sure you have food that can be prepared without cooking.

Eliminate Fall Hazards

Younger people can usually recover quickly when they fall, but elderly people can face major injuries like hip fractures or head trauma.

Stretch before going outside. Stretching improves circulation and limbers muscles.
Wear sensible shoes with low heels, good support and non-skid soles.
Stick to cleared sidewalks and roads.
Use assistive devices when necessary, such as handrails, canes, or walkers to help maintain balance. Replace a cane tip if it is worn down or it will become slippery when wet. Take off shoes after arriving home as melted ice or snow can cause wet, slippery floors. Use rock salt, sand, or another chemical de-icing compound to keep steps, walkways, and driveways free of ice. Outdoor winter tasks, such as shoveling snow, require more energy than many seniors think. If a senior must shovel snow, stretch beforehand, take frequent breaks, push the snow (do not lift it), keep loads light and small, slightly bend at the knee and keep the back straight to reduce strain on the heart and back. Remember that the strain from the cold and hard labor could cause a heart attack; sweating can lead to a chill and even hypothermia. Hire someone or ask a family member to do the outside chores such as bringing in the mail, taking out the garbage, and shoveling the snow.

Winterize the Car

When a winter storm comes, minimize travel as much as possible and make sure cars are in the best possible condition. Older adults may not have the same reflexes as younger adults so it is essential to make sure they are as safe as possible

Drive for conditions – slower speeds, acceleration, steering, and braking. Use headlights at all times. Do not use cruise control. Leave extra room between vehicles. Slow down when approaching intersections, off ramps, bridges, or shady spots. Be sure their car is serviced so that their tires, battery, oil level, antifreeze levels, belts, hoses, and wipers are all functioning and up to code.
Stash some extra winter clothes (a hat, a scarf, gloves, etc.) and a blanket in the back seat or trunk in case the temperature drops unexpectedly. Keep a windshield scraper and small broom for ice and snow removal.
Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
Plan long trips carefully and travel by daylight with at least one other person.

Stay Warm

Physical ailments in seniors, such as arthritis, diabetes, poor circulation, paralysis caused by stroke and other conditions can cause lack of feeling, especially in the extremities, and put seniors at risk for hypothermia.

Keep the thermostat set at 65 degrees F or above. Dress in loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothes for warmth. Wear a hat when outdoors. A great deal of body heat is lost through the head. In addition to a warm winter coat, wear a scarf and mittens or gloves outdoors.
Food provides the body with energy. Eating well-balanced meals and avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated beverages will help with staying warm. Seniors who have difficulty preparing or shopping for their own food can contact COCOA regarding Meals on Wheels.
Watch for symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite and get emergency help if either condition is suspected. Hypothermia symptoms include slurred speech, sluggishness, confusion, dizziness, shallow breathing, unusual behavior and slow, irregular heartbeat. Frostbite symptoms include gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness and a waxy feeling to the skin. Staying active and flexible during the cold months will improve circulation and warmth. But if it is cold outside, exercise inside.

Protect the Skin

Aging causes skin to become thinner and drier. Certain medications can thin fragile nasal tissues, creating a risk of nosebleeds.

Drink plenty of water and eat foods high in water content like soups.
Keep room air moist with a humidifier or vaporizer.
Moisturize daily with creams or lotions.
Use nasal lubricants or petroleum jelly to protect the lining of the nose.

Keep Spirits High

An often unrecognized risk to seniors in wintertime is depression. Winter weather can restrict activities and opportunities causing isolation and loneliness. Shorter days and cloudy weather means less sunlight, which can also contribute to depression.

Keep busy and active. Don’t forgo exercise or social events. Contact COCOA for help locating transportation services, senior centers, and social activities. When the weather or road conditions are too bad for travel, call a friend or relative for a chat. Family members and friends can let seniors know they are not alone and can provide a feeling of comfort and safety.

For more information or assistance contact the Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) at 541-678-5483. COCOA seeks to meet immediate needs for seniors while encouraging a maximum amount of self-help and independence. COCOA’s mission is to promote dignity, well-being, security, and independence for Central Oregon seniors and disabled adults. COCOA is a nonprofit organization and the designated Area Agency for Aging (AAA) responsible for providing services to meet the needs of senior citizens in the tri-county area of Central Oregon.