Capital Health Care Network8 Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

Winter has arrived and it brings added safety concerns for older adults and the elderly. Many elders will suffer a bone fracture of one kind or another this winter and that fracture has the potential to be life changing.

The following tips are offered as preventative measures that can help seniors avoid slipping and falling on ice and snow during inclement weather:

1. Wear the right footwear meaning wear shoes and boots that fit and are not worn out and still provide good traction
2. Wear gloves to help you keep your hands warm and out of your pockets so you can use your hands and arms to catch yourself if you lose your balance.
3. Keep your sidewalks and driveways clear of snow and ice; have someone (hopefully NOT an at-risk senior) blow or shovel the snow away as needed. Apply de-icing material to reduce ice buildup on walkways.
4. Take your time as you move from one location to another. Watch your step, be careful, move slowly – especially when you can’t tell if your path is clear and free of ice.
5. Please don’t be too proud to ask for help if you need it. There is no shame in needing help.
6. Be prepared for the possibility of a fall. Consider renting or purchasing an emergency alert pendent and be sure to wear it when you get it.
7. Do not check the mail until it is safe to do so.
8. Consider implementing a kind of neighborhood watch program where you and your neighbors or family members check in on one another at assigned times during severe or harsh weather.