Cold weather safety for older adults – tips to help your residents through bad winter weather

Though winter can be a difficult time for people of any age, it can be an especially challenging time for older people, so we’re looking at some tips to ensure not just cold weather safety, but also how to help your residents stay happy, healthy, and make the most of the winter period. 

Because of conditions like seasonal affective disorder, winter can bring about emotional challenges for someone of any age, but this can be true especially in older adults who also have to consider their physical safety and how to avoid loneliness and isolation if they are less able to go outside. Not only this, but the colder weather can pose physical risks to older adults because they are more likely to be susceptible to cold-related illnesses, such as chest infections, hypothermia or flu.  

The mental and physical risks of winter weather 

Because older people tend to have less body fat, slower metabolisms and lower muscle mass, not to mention slower circulations and weaker immune systems, they are far more likely to feel the effects of the cold and have any pre-existing conditions worsened by it. They are especially vulnerable if they have pre-existing conditions such as lung or heart problems, as the cold weather can increase respiratory issues.  

There are many other physical cold-weather related issues that can arise in older people, such as headaches, dehydration, irregular temperature regulation and others, but one of the biggest risks to physical health in older adults as a result of winter weather is the higher likelihood of falling. In winter, when older people go outside, any icy conditions can be a significant obstacle for them and as a result they can be at a much greater risk of falling as older people tend to have less mobility, balance and flexibility. And if they do fall, less muscle mass and frailer bones means they are far more likely to sustain injuries. 

As a result of all these physical risks due to winter weather, older people’s mental health has the potential to suffer greatly. Because of the risk posed by going outside in slippery or icy conditions, they may feel a sense of isolation or loneliness, and this, coupled with less sunlight, might have a negative effect on their mental health and overall sense of wellbeing. 

What can you do to ensure cold weather safety for older people in care homes? 

As far as protecting residents from the physical risks of cold weather, there are several ways to keep them safe and happy, as well precautions to take, such as: 

Recognising most vulnerable residents 

It's important to identify the residents in your care home that may be the most vulnerable to cold weather and make special previsions to ensure that they are kept safe and that they’re physical wellbeing is protected in the context of their health issues. For example, you might have some residents with reduced mobility, pre-existing health conditions or those with dementia who might also be experiencing the effects of sundowning. It’s also a good idea to make sure that any medication needs are addressed for those who might be especially reliant on medicines to guard against pain or discomfort, as certain medications may need to be adjusted to account for temperature changes.  

Ensuring heating and the right clothing 

The dangers of living in cold homes are widely reported and can have a big impact on the health of anybody, but especially older people. So, it’s important to ensure that you maintain a consistent and comfortable warm temperature within the home of about 18-20C. As well as this, make sure that heating systems are working as they should be and also make sure that all residents have as many extra items of warm clothing that they need, such as extra blankets for beds, hats, scarves, warm layers and gloves. Communication is key in this also, so be sure to ask them as often as needed if they are cold or if they need any extra blankets or items of clothing.  

Promoting hydration and nutrition 

Typically, cold air tends to be drier than warm air, which may lead to dehydration if residents spend much of their time in surrounded by dry air in heated rooms. But because it is cold, they may not feel as thirsty as they might otherwise be, so while it seems counterintuitive, dehydration can be a problem in cold weather, so be sure to monitor their fluid intake closely.  

Likewise, to ensure that they remain as healthy as possible, make sure that they are getting all of their required nutrients through balanced and substantial meals to ensure that their body is as healthy as is can be and keep energy levels up.  

Engage in exercise 

Another way to keep energy levels up is to encourage residents to engage in regular exercise. There are several benefits to keeping up a regimen of exercise in the winter months but the most important of them are that regular exercise means that residents will be able to generate body heat and keep themselves active. It will also help to keep their joints from getting stiffer which can happen in cold weather and overall, it will help with mobility. Not only this, but exercise will probably help to keep their spirits up as its proven that exercise can lead to positive outcomes in mental health. 

Engaging in exercise is also important because taking every opportunity possible to help older people maintain their mobility, flexibility and muscle mass is a crucial preventative step to guard against the kinds of falls that are more common in winter. Obviously, we want to avoid any kind of fall if possible, and you can do this by taking steps like providing proper footwear, using mobility aids where necessary, and having clear pathways, but just because winter has come that doesn’t mean older people should be trapped indoors for months on end.  

Judging and taking positive risks are important, and keeping up a programme of exercise means that older people are more balanced and mobile and if falls do happen, the benefits of exercise, like the increase in mobility, muscle mass and things like bone density, means that they may be less damaging than they would be otherwise.  

Keeping the mind active too 

Everybody has been in that type of situation before – as the nights draw in, it can sometimes mean having less to do or having fewer opportunities to go out and see people or see places. This is especially the case for older adults who might find themselves without much needed mental stimulation by engaging with the world around them. But, that doesn’t mean they can’t keep their minds active – there are plenty of activities, like the ones available on our Wellness and Activities Platform, that are perfect for long winter nights, such as arts and crafts, quizzes, virtual tours and art sessions – all of which promote a sense of community alongside a boost in intellectual wellbeing.  

“Our occupancy figures are incredibly good; our new homes fill up much more quickly than the other care homes that are newly built, and I think a big part of that is because of how we do what we do – how we create an atmosphere in our homes using the Wellness and Activities Platform.” 

 - Cath Fairhurst, Chief Operations Officer, New Care 

Read more about how New Care improved their care outcomes using the Wellness and Activities Platform here. 

Celebrating festive occasions 

The nights are getting longer and there may be fewer opportunities to go out, but that doesn’t mean all of the fun and festive occasions can’t be celebrated within the community of the home. Festive occasions are the perfect chance to have fun over the winter period and bring the home together as one collective community. This will go a long way to dispelling the feelings of loneliness and isolation that can sometimes come with winter for older adults and give them days on which they can make new memories and enjoy meaningful experiences. These types of days are also the perfect way to bring families and their loved ones closer together over the winter period.  

The importance of staff training 

Making sure that you are prepared for the winter weather and that your residents are safe, warm and happy comes down to having the knowledge available to make sure everything is addressed, and every base is covered. That’s why staff training is so important because it’s crucial that they understand the signs of cold-related illnesses and can respond appropriately and as quickly as possible. Not only this, but adequate training means they know which preventative measures to take to ensure that these types of cold-related issues are less likely to occur in the first place.  

Make the most of the months ahead 

While for some the winter months can be a worrying time, an isolating time and a time of increased health concerns, there are plenty of ways in which the winter period, in particular the festive period, can be a time of joy and happiness and fun, full of things to look forward to and memories to be made. And it shouldn’t be any different for older adults in care homes.  

Many of the precautions listed above can be made possible by using the features of our Connected Care Platform, and if you want to find out more about how our digital solutions can give you the tools you need to make sure your residents don’t have to miss out on the fun that can be had in winter, just click here to book a consultation.