Whether you live in Israel or anywhere with a wintry climate, this season presents many challenges for senior citizens living in their own homes and responsible for their own food, health and wellbeing. Here are some helpful tips to help seniors stay safe and healthy during the winter.
- Keep active
Staying active during winter can help your body to stay healthy and also keep you warm. Whenever the weather is dry, try to take a short walk in the middle of the day. On a wet day, try some armchair exercises or keep busy with household chores.
- Vaccines
It is recommended that seniors get vaccinated against flu every winter, because the various influenza viruses post a serious risk to older people, with different variants circulating each year. If COVID vaccines are recommended in your area, you may want to update your immunity to this disease too.
- Keep warm
Dress for winter with layers of clothing, rather than one thick layer, and try not to sit still for more than one hour. Check that your heating system is working efficiently, and close your curtains in the evenings to keep the heat in your home. Consider using either a hot water bottle or an electric blanket in bed (but never both!)
- Organize your medications
Order your prescriptions ahead of time to ensure that you don’t run out of any of your medications. Stock up on your favorite cold and flu remedies in case you start to feel unwell.
- Plan for bad weather
Listen to your local weather forecasts regularly to stay up to date with the weather in your area. Ask neighbors for help if you need to prepare for ice, snow, high winds, flooding, storms etc., and try to avoid going out if the weather is bad. If you have to go out, make sure to wear winter boots with non-slip soles.
- Stock up on food
Make sure that you have enough food supplies in case the weather is bad for a few days, including milk and other essentials. Find out if your neighbors order groceries online and can add a few items to their list for you.
- Keep your spirits up
Shorter days and reduced activity can leave seniors feeling down during the winter. Try to do something you enjoy every day, such as listening to music and radio broadcasts, and phone your friends and family members for a chat.
- Plan for emergencies
Think ahead about emergencies that may affect you, and make a list of telephone numbers so you can call for help.
– keep your mobile phone charged and switched on at all times
– keep a list of emergency numbers, such as family members and utility companies, by your phone
– keep a torch handy in case you lose power
– test your smoke alarms
– tell you neighbors if you’re on your own and worried about the weather.
- Don’t take risks!
Thinking of climbing on a chair to change a light bulb? Don’t do it! Make a list of tasks around the house that are too dangerous to take care of, and ask a friend, relative or neighbor to help you next time they visit.
- Connect with your community
If you find yourself with too little to do, find out about activities for seniors in your local community, including libraries and Jewish community centers. Even if you don’t enjoy every activity on offer, it helps to spend time with people and not alone. You may make new friends and discover new hobbies.
If you are finding it hard to manage at home this winter, this might be a sign that it’s time for you to consider moving into a community for seniors like Beit Tovei Ha’ir in Jerusalem. Click here to find out more and enjoy a tour of Beit Tovei Ha’ir.
