Winter Care for Elderly Loved Ones

Winter is hard on everyone in Boston. The days get shorter and we all suffer through frigid temperatures. Now imagine how it must feel for your elderly loved ones.

They are far more prone to injury because of fragility. Their muscles and joints don’t work the way they used to, which can lead to falls. Cold affects them in a harsher way, and they are more likely to get frostbitten or sick.

That is why winter care for the elderly is important. Having a good winter care strategy will keep them safe during this high risk time of the year.

Preventing Winter-Related Injuries

We’ve all stumbled a little when walking around in the winter. Sometimes you don’t know there’s ice until you already slipped over it. This is especially dangerous for the elderly because falls can lead to life-altering or life-threatening side effects.

Even at home, seniors are prone to falls unless their home has been carefully prepared to prevent falls. Good lighting and proper stair maintenance are important. Also, canes, handle bars and reaching aids are useful tools that can reduce the risks of tripping, slipping or falling.

The cold itself is also dangerous. Elderly people get colder faster. There are heated clothing benefits that you should consider. They can help the elderly minimize the risk of developing hypothermia and frostbites.

Properly winterizing the home can prevent many accidents for our elderly loved ones. That means things like checking that the windows are well-insulated, having the roof inspected to ensure it won’t get crushed under heavy snow, checking their heating system and refilling the propane or oil before it gets too low, and other safety precautions.

Staying Indoors

When it’s icy and cold outside, it’s better to hibernate a little bit. There are plenty of holidays to prepare for in the winter that will keep you and your elderly loved ones occupied.

After the holiday season, senior citizens tend to get lonely and a little sad. It’s hard for friends and family to visit because of the weather. Staying inside too much isolates them and makes them feel lonely.

A home care companion can help them feel less alone. Not only can a home care aide provide emotional support, they can also take care of basic housekeeping, run errands, and do meal prep.

Your senior care strategy should also include regular cleaning and changing of bed linens and laundry. Bedding is bulky and difficult to thoroughly clean in household washers and dryers. Hiring a laundry delivery service will make things easier.

Skincare and Nutritional Supplements

It gets drier when it’s cold and elderly skin can start to crack and bleed. Prevent this by having a dry skin lotion or cream with plenty of moisturizing elements around the house and reminding your loved one to use it.

Make sure you the cupboard. One easy way to stay healthy is by making sure you’re getting the proper nutrition.

In the summer, it’s easier to stop by and make sure your elderly relatives are eating nutritiously. During the winter, vitamins and supplements can be a good way to ensure they’re getting the nutrition needed to get through the winter.

If you have senior loved ones living by themselves at home, these winter safety measures should not be taken lightly. Fortunately, proper preparation can alleviate most problems. We hope these winter safety tips will help you and your loved ones stay safe this winter.

Condo Living in Boston

Condo prices have gone up again this year in downtown Boston, according to Boston Magazine. For example condos in the South End area cost nearly $1 million while in Back Bay they are over $1.2 million. As more and more businesses in the innovation economy move to Boston, mostly technology and life sciences companies, the demand for residential condo units go up. Most of these condo developments are in the high end category and concentrated in the Seaport District, Back Bay, West End and also across the river in Cambridge.

South End is one of the most desirable places to live in the City of Boston. There you’ll find interesting upscale specialty shops, coffee shops and restaurants, convenient services like dry cleaners, salons, and friendly community pharmacies. The brownstone lined streets are charming and relaxing with plenty of green public areas. It’s also a stone’s throw from major shopping centers in Copley where you can find major luxury brands. There is metered parking on major thoroughfares like Tremont Street and residential parking mostly in the side streets. Of course, it is also served by the T, which is Boston’s mass transit system.

If you want more floor space, you might want to move to the Boston suburbs instead. For example, in the city of Newton, there are many condos, old and new, as well. Newton is known as the Garden City with plenty of green spaces, parks as well as beautiful gardens in private houses. There are major shopping centers in Chestnut Hill with a variety of specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, luxury brands as well as many medical offices, banks and schools. Parking is readily available in all the village centers (there are 13 villages in Newton). Finding a laundry and dry cleaner in Newton is easy, as is a local prescription pharmacy. Newton has many residential housing complexes for the elderly, including independent living, assisted living, nursing homes and other choices. There are also many home care agencies in Newton, offering in-home care services for elderly and disabled adults.

Boston is a great place to live and work. You’ll love it!

Caring for an Aging Parent

Is your aging parent starting to need help with some of the everyday tasks at home? A change in functioning doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to move to assisted living or a nursing home. Sometimes all they need is a little help with chores or some extra support so they can continue to live in their home. Start by asking your loved one what they need help with, discuss your concerns with them, and coordinate with their primary care doctor. That way they’ll still feel like they’re in charge and you’ll get a good feel for what is really needed to keep them safe, comfortable, and happy.

Maybe a few modifications to the home, such as grab bars for the shower or a stair lift can make things safer for them and reduce the worry for you.

Maybe you can stop by once a week to do yard work or household chores and prepare some meals for them. If they have difficulty with bathing or dressing, you could stop by once a day to help. However, don’t be afraid to get some extra care giving help. Here are some ideas:

Use a laundry pickup and delivery service to take laundry day right off the chore list.
Set up a reminder schedule for medications using specially designed pill boxes or high-tech reminder devices.
To save time picking up the medications, choose a local pharmacy that offers prescription delivery service.
Hire a home health aide who can help with some of the household chores and meal preparation as well as some of the personal care tasks and medication reminders.
Use a grocery delivery or meal delivery service.
Take advantage of programs and services at the local senior center, especially for socialization and exercise.

For busy professionals living in cities like Boston, caring for an aging parent can be overwhelming. Don’t sweat it out all by yourself. A little extra help here and there can make all the difference in your quality of life, as well as your parent’s!