Tips for elderly to keep warm in winter
Many of our service users are elderly individuals and the cold winter weather can affect them greatly, so we’ve put together some top tips on how to keep warm this winter that we hope you can use or share these with someone you might know who needs them.
- Heating – having a warm home if you have reduced mobility or are over 65-years-of-age is extremely important in the winter. The minimum your home should be heated to is 18 degrees and bedrooms should be heated all day if possible. Hot water bottles and blankets are a great idea to keep around the house if you’re feeling the chill. But take care not to fill bottles with boiling water.
If you or the person you’re looking out for was born on or before January 5, 1953 they may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment too.
- Staying active – if you can, staying active is a great way to keep yourself warm. Simply getting up and walking around the room is the perfect way to get started. If possible, try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time.
- Wear lots of layers – wearing lots of thin layers of clothes made from cotton, wool or fleecy fibres is a great way to maintain body heat too.
- Keep food and fluids up – eating hot meals and drinking warm drinks regularly throughout the day is essential to keeping yourself warm as food is a vital energy source.
If you know of an elderly person struggling to keep warm this winter, make sure you pop in on them regularly to ensure they have everything they need. Provide blankets if you can and keep track of eating and drinking habits, and help with any chores they might need doing. If you feel they may need more help, please don’t hesitate to give us a call as we provide a home care service across Wales.
