Senior Winter Safety: Keeping Canadians Safe During Inclement Weather

Senior In-Home Care  |  December 17, 2024

What Every Family in North Vancouver and West Vancouver Needs to Know About Inclement Weather Safety for Seniors

No matter where your client or loved one lives, bad or unexpected weather is bound to happen. It’s time to talk about Senior Winter Safety!

Here is a quick guide for protecting seniors around their homes ─ and when they are out and about.

Senior Winter Safety Fast Facts: The Red Cross online guide, “Disaster Preparedness For Seniors By Seniors” includes tips and supply checklists.

Senior Winter Safety and Power Outages 

Whether it’s a winter storm, during a flood, or hurricane season ─ snow, ice, rain, and wind can cause power outages. 

How to prepare a senior for power outages:

#1. Emergency Numbers:

Supply the phone numbers of all utility companies including power, gas, and water. Also include emergency numbers such as the fire department, police, doctor, and home care provider. Quick access to these phone numbers is crucial.

#2. Working Flashlights

Make sure seniors are equipped with working flashlights and a battery-powered radio. Have extra batteries on hand.

#3. Be Prepared:

Seniors should stockpile warm blankets and non-perishable foods, and if it’s cold or damp, wear several layers of clothing, including a hat. Moving around also raises body temperature.

#4. Alert Authorities of Home Medical Devices

Does your senior rely on a home medical device powered by energy? As soon as an essential medical device is put in service in the home, the local electric utility (and sometimes other authorities) should be notified of its existence and need. This can put your loved one on a list for immediate attention during a power outage.

Senior Winter Safety and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Burning wood, natural gas, kerosene and other fuels produce carbon monoxide, a deadly gas that no one can see or smell. Unless fireplaces, wood and gas stoves, and gas appliances are properly vented, cleaned, and used, they can leak dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide. 

These and other appliances, such as kerosene and electric heaters, can also be fire hazards. 

Here are some sound safety measures to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

#1. Call an inspector:

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected yearly and cleaned when necessary. (Ask the local fire department to recommend an inspector, or look up “chimney cleaning” for your area.)

#2. Air the room out:

Open a window. Just a crack will do when using a kerosene stove.

#3. Install detectors:

Use carbon monoxide detectors. Put battery-operated carbon monoxide and smoke detectors near fireplaces, wood stoves, or kerosene heaters.

#4. Ensure proper heating appliances:

Never allow someone to heat a home using a gas stove. Charcoal grills or other stoves are not made for home heating.

Senior Winter Safety and Driving Tips

Adults 65 and older are involved in more car accidents per mile driven than those in any other age group.

Because driving can be more hazardous during bad weather, seniors should:

#1. Winter vehicle maintenance:

Have the car weatherized ahead of time. This means having antifreeze, tires, and windshield wipers checked and changed, as needed.

#2. Travel with phone:

Take a cell phone when driving in bad weather. Seniors should always let someone know where they are going and when they expect to arrive, in case a call for help is necessary.

#3. Plan your route:

Avoid wet or icy roadways, overpasses, or bridges, if possible. Check the news (or go online) for road conditions. It may be wise to consider a different route.

#4. Prepare a winter kit for the car:

Stock the car with basic emergency supplies, such as:

1. a first aid kit
2. blankets
3. extra warm clothes
4. booster cables
5. a good quality windshield scraper
6. rock salt, a bag of sand, or cat litter for wheel traction
7. containers of water, canned or dried foods, and a can opener
8. a flashlight and a shovel

Senior Winter Safety and Slippery Surfaces

Falls are common for senior citizens and can cause major injuries such as hip and wrist fractures, head trauma, and major lacerations. It is easy to slip and fall, especially in wet, icy, and snowy conditions.

Here are some precautions that can be taken:

#1. Shovelling:

Shovel snowy steps and walkways for seniors or hire someone. At home, seniors should stay inside until pathways are shovelled. When away, they should look for sidewalks that are dry and cleared.

#2. Proper footwear:

Seniors should wear boots with non-skid soles to prevent slippage. Have them remove footwear as soon as they return indoors because rain, snow, and ice can be tracked in and lead to slippery conditions inside.

#3. Secure walking aides:

If a senior uses a cane, replace the rubber tip before it is worn smooth. You might also buy (at a medical supply store) an ice pick-like attachment that fits onto the end of the cane.

With a sound plan in place, seniors can be properly prepared for inclement weather. 

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Do you need a home care solution for yourself or a loved one? Have you been thinking about retirement homes and their alternatives as a solution? Comfort Keepers® enables seniors to maintain happy, healthy lives in the comfort of their own homes. In-home care services are available in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and the surrounding areas.

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Our in-home caregivers ensure our senior clients have the best quality of life. The Interactive Caregiving™ program ensures that a senior’s safety, nutrition, mental well-being, and everyday needs are met. This program brings joy and good health to each client’s home.

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If you are concerned about the health and well-being of a loved one we can help! Comfort Keepers offers 24-hour care and delivers top-quality and compassionate care for seniors.  We are dedicated to safety technology solutions that foster independence and enhance well-being.

Locally Owned and Operated Home Health Care Agency

Our care centers around companionship for seniors. Empathetic care originates from the soul and allows us to meet our client’s requirements. The seasoned in-home caregivers employed by Comfort Keepers are carefully chosen based on their empathetic qualities.  

Contact the Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver office at (604) 998-8806 to learn more about our unique in-home care solutions for seniors.

Comfort Keepers is an Accredited Senior Care Agency in North and West Vancouver, BC

Comfort Keepers® North and West Vancouver accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers® met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, outlined by Accreditation Canada.

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References:

• American Red Cross. “Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors”. Web. 2015.
• AgingCare.com. “Little-Known Winter Dangers for Elders”. Web. 2015.
• HealthInAging.org. “Winter Safety Tips for Older Adults”. Web. 2011.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH). “When the Weather Gets Cold”. News in Health. January 2009.
• MedicineNet. “Winter Can Pose Hazards for Seniors, Expert Warns”. Web. 2013.

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