With Winter 2014 gracing us with our fair share of snowfall this season, staying safe is everyone’s top priority. Besides for the obvious hazards of slipping and falling outdoors and slick driving conditions, there are other perils that seniors and caregivers should be aware of.
Seniors living at home can suffer from loneliness and social isolation. Family members should make sure that their loved ones have regular company, and if possible, should arrange for them to be safely transported to a local senior center where they can spend time with their peers and enjoy a range of stimulating senior activities.
At The Regency Assisted Living in Glen Cove, we make sure to implement programming that banishes the winter blues and we offer activities that are open to the community, such as our ongoing Regency University seminars.
Due to their vulnerable immune system, seniors should be up-to-date on their annual flu shots. Hypothermia and frostbite are two more significant concerns, and that’s not only when venturing outside. Make sure to keep the house warm, with the thermostat above 65; there have been cases of hypothermia occurring indoors. More than half of hypothermia deaths are among seniors, according to Centers for Disease Control.
It has been discovered that many seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are plagued by increased memory loss, confusion, agitation and anger during the evening hours. This has been labeled “sundowners syndrome”. The shorter days and longer nights of winter can impact seniors, aggravating this syndrome. To prevent and minimize the negative effects that come along with sundown, it is important to keep the home well-lit, establish a regular nighttime routine and make sure the environment is calm and tranquil.
Of course, residents at The Regency Assisted Living are kept warm, comfortable and cozy, and our trained staff are alert to any changes in mood, energy level and cognitive abilities.