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When you think of winter safety, go with the three P’s.
Parents, Pets, and Pipes.

If you’re a senior, or your parents are elderly or are living with a disease, they need to be on your priority list for winter safe. Many of our parents live alone and are susceptible to extreme cold temperatures. And in today’s economic hardships, many seniors are cutting expenses by cutting back on heat–a dangerous practice for elders and those with medical conditions.

Here are some helpful hints to protect mom or dad:

Call your elderly family members, neighbors or friends. They need to check in with someone on a regualr basis, but it’s even more important in cold weather. Call several times a day if the temperatures drop significantly, or if there’s an impending snow or ice storm.

If you know a storm is coming, go ahead and bring your elder to your home. Don’t risk them being iced or snowed in–electricity often fails in severe storms–and roads can be shut down.

Check their home and property for dangerous tree limbs or powerlines. Cut overhanging limbs down before bad weather hits.

Salt their stairs and walkways. You can encourage them not to go outside, but assume they will and be prepared.

Suggest they dress warm and in layers even if they’re only in the house all day or only go to the mail box. Be sure to hide a spare key unless they lock themselves out. Don’t be too obvious and hide the key wel, but more people are locked out of their homes each year than those who experience a break in.

Fireplaces can be hazardous for the elderly. Opening and closing the flue can be difficult, and if it isn’t opened properly, they can create a carbon monoxide hazard, or if it isn’t closed properly, it’s the equivalent to having a giant hole in your roof and letting out all your heat.

Elders shouldn’t skimp on heating. They aren’t always as physically active as someone younger, and they don’t have great circulation, so encourage they to not set their temperature before 68-70 degrees. Many utility companies will off-set the cost of heating and air for elders, so be sure to ask if your loved one qualifies.

Some illnesses and medications cause a person not to be able to regulate their body’s heat properly.

Illnesses That Impede Your Ability to Stay Warm:

Does your mom or dad have a thyroid condition?

Have they had a stroke and might not be aware of warmth or cold on one side of their body?

Do they have arthritis and is it more painful during rain or cold?

Do they have Parkinson’s or have they had hip or knee surgery and don’t move around well? This can hinder them from moving around freely, and it makes them more suseptible to falls.

Do they have dementia or Alzheimer’s? Do you suspect they do? If so, get them tested. There are many good medications that can at least slow this disease. This condition can also make it unsafe for them to live alone.

Does your loved one struggle with depression? Do they take heavy doses of sleeping aids? All this can add to their inability to react to the cold.

Remind your elder to let the faucet drip if temperature dip below freezing. Wrap any exposed pipes and get a “blanket” for their hot water heater. A burst pipe will cause water damage and can happen in the middle of the night.

By being aware of possible risks, you can keep your elders safe–and warm during the winter months.