Keeping seniors healthy can be a challenge, especially in the cold Missouri winter. Many seniors are vulnerable to loneliness and depression as temperatures drop, and slick surfaces can pose a serious safety hazard. If you’re the primary caregiver for an elderly loved one, below are a few tips for keeping your family member healthy throughout the winter.

How to Keep Seniors Healthy in the Winter

1. Schedule Social Visits

Nearly one-quarter of seniors are socially isolated, according to reports from the CDC. Loneliness and isolation can have a profound effect on your loved one’s emotional and physical health.

Luckily, regular social interactions with old friends and family members can help ward off seasonal depression, which often strikes in the winter. If your family member is unable to leave the house, try to have visitors over regularly throughout the winter.

2. Provide a Balanced Diet

Illnesses are more common during the winter, so a healthy diet is more important than ever. Caregivers should provide a varied diet that includes ample fruits and vegetables, which contain essential vitamins and minerals.

Caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia should be especially careful that their loved ones are taking vitamins. These steps can strengthen your family member’s immune system, potentially preventing colds and flus that could turn into pneumonia.

3. Ensure They’re Warm Enough

Many people naturally become more sensitive to cold as they age. To keep your loved one comfortable throughout the winter, take steps to ensure they’re warm, whether they’re outside or at home.

If they're going out, be sure your loved one wears several light layers. At home, keep the thermostat at a temperature that ensures their comfort. You should also provide blankets and take any complaints of cold seriously.

4. Keep Walkways Clear

Ice and snow can be dangerous for people of any age, but falling is especially hazardous for seniors. A single fall can result in broken bones, head trauma, and other serious injuries.

Throughout the winter, keep the driveway, steps, and sidewalks clear of ice and snow. Caregivers already have a lot of responsibility, so you may want to hire someone to manage these time-consuming chores.

If you or a loved one need help with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) which includes meal preparation, light housekeeping, toileting, and bathing, trust the caregivers at Deer Valley Home Health Services in St. Louis, MO. There’s also the option of arranging for private duty nurse visits, if you do not qualify for Medicaid. Call (314) 355-3679 to discuss your specific needs, or visit them online to learn more about their services.