Winter is fast approaching, and it's never too soon to start preparing for the cold season. But what winterizing tasks can seniors do? There are a couple of ways seniors can prepare their homes for winter, but some tasks should be outsourced to third-party service providers who can perform them more safely.
Here's a list of winterizing tasks that seniors can independently perform, tasks that require the assistance of a caregiver, and those that need to be handled by professionals.
Tasks Seniors Can Do in Preparation for Winter
If a senior is healthy and can move around, they can perform the following tasks to prepare for winter:
1. Re-Evaluate Their Wardrobe
Before winter kicks in, seniors should go through their winter wardrobe and ensure that they have enough warm clothes, such as socks, gloves, insulated jackets, and scarves. They should also have warm blankets, which should be kept clean and easily accessible throughout the winter season.
They may also want to add a few pairs of shoes with non-slip soles to use when walking outside and could encounter ice.
2. Stock an Adequate Supply of Food
Warm clothes and blankets are not the only winter shopping items seniors should buy. They should also ensure there is enough supply of foods, especially dry foods, to last through the winter. Bulk shopping reduces food shopping trips during the cold season.
3. Get Snow Removal Essentials
Another important task when winterizing a senior's home is prepping for snow and ice removal. Snow and ice are major fall hazards among seniors; therefore, driveways and sidewalks should be free of them at all times.
Therefore, before winter starts and everyone is rushing to the store for ice scrapers and snow shovels, seniors should have all the snow removal essentials they need. They should also ensure they have enough melting salt and that their snow blower is working.
Winterizing Tasks That Seniors Can Do with the Assistance of a Caregiver
If an elderly loved one has mobility issues, a family member or caregiver can assist the senior in performing tasks such as:
Improving the Lighting
During winter, the days are shorter and the skies darker, causing dim lighting in the house. Caregivers can help seniors replace existing bulbs for bulbs with extra brightness for adequate lighting, especially in fall hotspots, such as the bathroom and stairways.
Winterizing Tasks That Should Be Outsourced to Professionals
1. Servicing the Carbon and Smoke Detectors
The risk of carbon leakage is common during winter because of lit fireplaces, generators, and heaters to supply warmth. Therefore, elderly loved ones should have the smoke and carbon detectors serviced for safety.
2. Fixing the Roof and Gutters
Ideally, we need to clear roofs and gutters after the fall season. This can save one a lot of trouble come winter. Clogged gutters and damaged roofs can prevent the snow from melting and draining properly. As a result, ice dams will form, weakening the roof and necessitating costly repairs later. Hiring professional roof and gutter cleaners before winter can save one a lot of money and prevents roof damage.
3. Servicing the AC Heating System
Seniors should engage professionals to service the heating system and the heat filters before winter kicks in. It would be bad to discover a problem with the heating system when they turn it on during a freezing winter evening. The experts will ensure the heating system works and that the heating ducts are also in good condition. Seniors are also advised to shut heat ACs in rooms least used to maximize heat in areas where they spend more time.
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Our professional caregivers have the training and qualifications to offer services such as light housekeeping, meal preparations, home safety evaluations, medication reminders, etc. Contact us today for more information.