Warm Attention | Keeping A Close Eye On The Elderly Through The Winter
Posted on: 7 July 2015
As your parent, grandparent, or other aging elderly family member grows older, their health will definitely start to be more of a concern. Not only may they be struggling with health issues, but they may have a tendency to forget things, and perhaps even a stubborn attitude about asking you for help. During the winter months when the weather turns colder, this combination of elderly issues and mentality can really get dangerous. There are a few things that you should know that will help you keep a watchful eye on your older loved ones through the winter.
Elderly People May Not Always Realize How Cold Their Home Is
Lack of blood flow and sensory perception in older adults can easily leave them without knowing that they are colder than usual. If you have ever paid careful attention to elderly seniors, they can sometimes walk around in inappropriate clothing, oblivious to the temperature. Even further, as hypothermia sets in, the body does not react to cold temperatures the same. Therefore, you will have to make sure that your family member is keeping the heat turned up to a sufficient setting to stay warm by checking in on them often in person. Over the phone, there is no way for you to physically feel how warm their home is.
An Aging Adult with a Limited Income May Not Call for Repairs Because they Can't Afford It
In February of 2015, two elderly brothers were found frozen to death in their home in Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania. It is suspected that they were having a difficult time financially and did not have enough heat to stay warm through one of the coldest winters on record for the area. Unfortunately, this could easily happen to an elderly family member of yours if they are having a hard time with money. It is not uncommon for older people to keep to themselves, and without a lot of visitors or complaint on their part, you may never know that they are in dire need of heating services to make repairs.
There are too many ways for an elderly individual who lives alone to put themselves in danger in their home in the winter. If you have an elderly loved one who you think may be having issues with their heating system, talk to a heating service professional such as A Avis Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning to find out about what repairs may need to be made to their system.
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