The coldest months of the year can also be the loneliest. The days seems shorter and cloudy days with less sunlight can put a damper on anyone’s mood. It is extremely beneficial to an elderly loved one to have some company. A phone call or a visit will be helpful to boost your loved one’s mood and have positive effects on the week ahead. A trustworthy and compassionate caregiver from Senior Helpers of Palm Springs is available to visit a few hours a day to bring a senior loved one a smile. Senior care at home is a great option for those who live far from loved ones or have a packed schedule that makes visiting often a little difficult to plan. Senior care at home is available to all areas of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells.
As we ease into the winter, it’s apparent that the cold weather is here to stay for a few more months. This is the time of year when it’s important to take precautions when traveling and spending any amount of time outdoors. Our senior loved ones especially need to be sure to take proper care in the wintertime.
The winter can bring treacherous conditions to our roads and sidewalks. Be sure to keep an elderly loved one’s doorsteps and sidewalks clear of all ice and snow to prevent slips and falls. Add a layer of salt to prevent any refreezing. If distance makes clearing a loved one’s driveway difficult, perhaps look into a local snow removal service to help out when there is any significant snowfall. The little extra cost will be great peace of mind of your loved one’s safety for you and your family.
When helping a senior loved one to dress in the morning during the winter, it is best to dress in layers. Our elderly loved ones typically struggle with keeping warm due to thinner blood and daily medications. Start off with a tee shirt, then layer with a long sleeve and top off with a sweater or fleece shirt. It is a lot easier to remove layers when feeling warm than shiver without enough on when cold.
If venturing outdoors with your senior loved one, whether to go grocery shopping or just to take a drive, it is important to stock a winter-preparedness kit in the vehicle. The temperatures can easily get below freezing and in the chance that the car has a breakdown, we want to be ready to protect our loved ones until help can arrive. The kit should have extra blankets, flashlight, phone charger for the cell phone, some dry snacks, water bottles and extra hats and mittens. When traveling, it is best to avoid days predicted to have dangerous wind chills and freezing precipitation.
Winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin. It’s a lot dryer and less forgiving than the warmer months of fall spring. With dryer air and less moisture to help our skin, it’s important to moisturize daily. Whenever possible, use a water vapor humidifier in the home to help keep moisture in the air and rehydrate the skin. Drinking lots of water daily also helps to keep the skin softer in the colder weather.
If you would like to learn more about caring and consistent in-home care for seniors, along with the many benefits of professional live-in care for the elderly, or dementia and Alzheimer’s care, call Senior Helpers of Palm Springs to speak to a senior care specialist today 760-343-5533. The compassionate senior care specialists at Senior Helpers can also guide you through the process of receiving the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance Benefit if your elderly loved one is a veteran. In home senior care allows your loved one to stay in the comforts of their own home for as long as possible while receiving the level of care they need. Senior Helpers of Palm Springs provides a wide range of services including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, personal assistance, companionship, and so much more to all areas of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells.