How Can You Help Protect Your Senior from Hypothermia This Winter?
Home Care in Loudoun County VA
Hypothermia is one of the greatest risks that your aging loved one faces during the cold weather season. In fact, each year more than 600 older adults die in the United States as a result of 
hypothermia, and countless others suffer health complications that impact them even after their have gotten through the situation. As a family caregiver it is extremely important to realize that hypothermia does not occur just when a person is exposed to extremely low temperatures or is outside for an extended period of time. In fact, elderly adults in particular can suffer from hypothermia when they are an inadequately heated or even excessively cooled indoor environment or are exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees or less, especially if they are wet or otherwise compromised. Taking steps to properly protect your aging parent from hypothermia is essential for keeping them safe and healthy throughout the cold weather season.
Some things that you can do to help protect your aging loved one from hypothermia this winter include:
- Dress appropriately. Make sure that your aging loved one dresses appropriately for the cold weather, particularly if they are going to be outside. This includes wearing lightweight, loos-fitting layers with a water-repellant layer on top rather than one layer of heavy clothing and being sure that their hands, feet, and heads are fully covered.
- Keep them dry. Being wet quickens the loss of body heat. Carry extra clothing, such as a layer of undergarments, a sweat suit, and extra socks, with you to ensure that if your parent gets wet they can change their clothes quickly.
- Warm their home. One of the leading risk factors for aging adults and hypothermia is inadequate heating in their home during the cold months of the year. Make sure that your senior’s heating system works properly and that they can afford their monthly heating payments. If there is a financial concern, contact their power company to find out about assistance programs that might be available.
- Identify warming shelters. If an emergency occurs and your parent’s heating system stops working, a community heating shelter can help them to stay warm and safe. Identify these warming shelters ahead of time so that you can review any access requirements and ensure that your parent has a safe way to get to one if necessary.
- Start elderly care for them. While many elderly adults complain of being cold frequently, others are not as able to sense the cold and may not realize when the situation has become serious. Even if they do feel cold, your parent might not think that they are actually at risk of hypothermia. Ensuring that they have adequate support, monitoring, and assistance can ensure that they stay warm enough, take the proper steps to protect themselves, and can get vital help if they do start to suffer from hypothermia. An elderly home care services provider can make a tremendous difference in your aging parent’s life and give you peace of mind that your senior is getting through this season in the best way possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional home care in Loudoun County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 369-6677. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities
Sources:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hypothermia/Pages/Prevention.aspx
http://www.rnceus.com/hypo/hyporisk.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/basics/prevention/con-20020453
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