As the days shorten and the evenings cool, it is wise for all of us, especially our seniors, to prepare for a safe autumn. Here are five tips to help us all stay safe.
1] Enjoy a Healthy Diet
Not
only do the leaves display gorgeous fall colours, so does the wonderful produce
available in the autumn. These delicious fruits and vegetables of the
harvest grow all summer are now ripe and ready to enjoy.
Fall
produce is not only delicious, they’re also packed with nutrients our bodies
need to keep our immune systems strong before temperatures turn chilly. When
fruits and veggies are eaten in their proper season, they are more
nutrient dense because they have matured on the plant, rather than
being picked early. And they are more likely to be locally
grown (which is good for your health and our local economy).
Sweet Potatoes have anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties and are packed with vitamins A, C, B6, B5, potassium, and manganese. Sweet Potatoes have also been shown to improve blood sugar regulation and to have important antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Winter
Squashes are high in antioxidants,
including vitamin C, boosts your immune system, helps prevent and fight cancer,
keeps bones healthy, and aids in weight loss.
Eggplants
are rich in antioxidants and help protect cells against free radicals.
They’ve also been found to assist in
preventing heart disease and diabetes, maintaining blood sugar
control, and providing you with plenty of fiber.
Cranberries are considered one of the world’s healthiest fruits with more antioxidants than blueberries. They can help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, prevent cancer, boost the immune system, help with anti-aging, cleanse the liver, and lower blood pressure.
2] Pre-Winter Fire Safety Check
Decrease the possibility of hazards in your home. Start by scheduling your pre-winter heating system maintenance. If you have a fireplace, have the chimney inspected and cleaned. You may be tempted to warm your room with a space heater, but some space heaters are fire hazards and others can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If space heaters are a necessity, make sure that they are never left unattended, and that there are at least three feet between the device and anything flammable, such as a wall, sheets and blankets or curtains, and that they are never left unattended. Also, never use an extension cord on a space heater.
Seniors
should be extra cautious with heating devices like electric heating pads or
blankets. Some medications can make your skin more sensitive to burns and your
sensory perception may be decreased so you may not feel when your skin is
starting the burn. THIS REALLY HAPPENS more frequently then you may
imagine. We also have known clients whose electric blankets caught fire
during the night when the wires got bent.
Now is the time of the year for checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries in these devices and test them to make sure they’re in good working order. Plan on doing detector testing every month of the fall and winter. Also check that your flashlights are easily reachable in the rooms your spend the most time in (bedroom, kitchen and TV room) and have fresh batteries. It’s also wise to have a couple of newer candles on hand heading into the winter and power-outage season.
3] Dress Appropriately for the Cooler Weather
The temperatures can drop quickly and unexpectedly in the autumn and we must be prepared. Seniors can lose body heat faster then younger adults and you may not even be aware that you're getting cold. A chill can develop into a dangerous problem before an older person realises what is happening.
- Thyroid
disease can make it hard to maintain a normal body temperature.
- Diabetes can
prevent blood from flowing normally to your extremities so your fingers
and toes can get cold and injured more easily (and diabetics with injuries
to their toes can be extremely challenging to heal, sometimes even leading
to amputation from something as seemingly harmless as a blister).
- Parkinson's disease and arthritis can make it hard to put on extra layers of clothes.
- Individuals who smoke, take beta-blockers, have poor circulation or Diabetes, are more likely to get Frostbite.
- Memory Loss can cause a person to go outside without clothing that is appropriate
for the conditions. Sadly, people with moderate to advanced cognitive decline
like Alzheimer’s can get lost and die from exposure to the cold.
It's time to put away our lighter summer fashions and bring out our fabulous sweaters again. Put your warmer jackets by the door and bring your gloves, hats and scarfs out again for quick and easy access; we lose a lot of body heat when our head and neck are left uncovered. Wind will quickly lower our body temperature. If you must go out in the colder weather, wear warm clothes and don't stay out for extended periods.
Most importantly for seniors with
mobility issues, and anyone wanting to avoid a slip and fall, have proper shoes
with good traction for outdoor walking in the fall and winter.
4] Keep Walkways Clear and Well Lit
Fall is appropriately
named as this is exactly what leaves do this time of year – they fall on our
paths and walkways and become slippery with the dew and will be icy as the temperatures
drop at night. See a leaf on the ground – think danger!
Keep all the walkways on your
property clear of fallen leaves and other debris, and make sure they are well
lit. The days get shorter quickly and you may head out in the sunshine after
lunch only to find you return as the sun is setting at 4:00 in the afternoon.
5] Be Proactive to Prevent Disease and Injury
Autmun and Winter can increase the risk for disease and injury for older adults.
Heart Attack: During the colder months, older adults, particularly those with a history of cardiovascular disease, are at a higher risk for heart attack. Cold air causes blood vessels to constrict and increases blood pressure.
Slips and Falls: Many seniors have muscle weakness, impaired hearing, decreased vision, slowed reflexes, poor balance, or other types of disability and may use an aid such as a walker. These factors increase the risk of falls, a leading cause of injury and death in the elderly. Snow and ice increase the risk so we recommend seniors, and other adults with mobility issues, avoid walking alone when there is snow or ice on the roads and walkways.
Car Accidents: Snow and ice can make driving a hazardous activity for seniors. Most older people have slower reflexes and decreased hearing and eyesight which makes it challenging to remain vigilant while driving. Statistics show that older adults, 65 and over, are involved in more car accidents per kilometer than other age groups.
If you need to go out in winter conditions, try a service like Rides by Shylo to ensure you arrive safely and have a Companion to escort you and carry your shopping or take notes during your medical appointment, if you wish.
Cold and Flu Season: Peak flu activity occurs between November and March. Due to weakener immune defenses, adults over 60 have a greater risk of developing serious health complications should they catch a cold or flu. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that seniors account for up to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations and 90% of flu-related deaths. Vaccination is simple and effective in most people.
We encourage all seniors to discuss disease and injury prevention plans with their primary care physician. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/
https://www.mibluesperspectives.com/
https://foodrevolution.org
