Autumn has arrived and with it comes falling leaves and cooler days. Although this seasonal change will be bringing most of us indoors, there are still some safety hazards that need to be addressed when it comes to senior health. We have compiled a list of tips to promote senior wellness this fall to help keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
- Rake the leaves and maintain your outdoor space
- Falling leaves are inevitable during Autumn and can be slippery and very dangerous for seniors when they’re on sidewalks, roads, and walkways. Be sure to rake up the leaves and other fallen debris in these areas to prevent falls. Installing handrails and non-skid surfaces to stairs can also help prevent unwanted falls. If you are a senior and continue to maintain your own outdoor area, don’t forget to stretch before and use your legs to prevent injury when bending and picking up things.
- Stock up on warm clothing
- The cooler weather will be upon us before we know it. So it’s important to stock up with socks, warm hats and gloves, comfortable house shoes, long sleeve shirts, warm pants, coats, and sweaters. It can also be a good idea to leave some of these warm articles of clothing in your vehicle in case your vehicle breaks down or has another emergency during cold weather.
- Invest in some waterproof, slip-resistant shoes
- It would be a great idea to invest in some good waterproof, slip-resistant shoes. These can be used outdoors or indoors. They are very useful on slippery leaves or icy sidewalks or walkways. They can also help prevent accidental falls indoors caused by poor lighting, water, or other trip hazards.
- Prevent sickness
- The cooler weather brings with it more opportunities to get sick. Keeping your immune system healthy is important to staying healthy during this time. Take vitamins like; vitamin C and zinc, make sure to wash your hands often especially after being in a public space or handling money, and get your flu and/or COVID-19 vaccines. When you are sick, make sure to stay home, cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, and where a mask to prevent getting others sick.
- Get plenty of exercise and sleep
- Exercise and a good amount of sleep are also important to maintaining a healthy immune system and preventing sickness during the cooler months. Since we will be spending more time indoors, it’s important to find exercises you can enjoy inside. You can find many videos online for yoga or Essentrics that are created for older bodies, if you have a treadmill you can take a walk on the treadmill, or bundle up and go for a walk in the chilly air. Many senior or community center have indoor pools that offer water aerobics and other exercises geared towards seniors, this exercises are easier on the joints. Exercising regularly will help you sleep better. There are many benefits that come with exercise and good sleep; better balance, fall prevention, faster recovery and repair, and promotes strong muscles and healthy joints.
- Maintain your vehicle
- Keeping your vehicle maintained can prevent many emergency situations in extreme weather. An oil change and a tire rotation are good things to start with for maintaining your vehicle for the fall. Also, you’ll want to top off all fluids, check tire air pressure, and make sure that all exterior lights are functioning. This is also a good time to make sure that the heater and AC are working properly.
- Maintain your home
- Insure that your heating unit, furnace, fireplace, or chimney are all in working order. Test and replace batteries for your carbon monoxide and fire alarms. Replace light bulbs that have dimmed or gone out, poor lighting has been found to be a contributing factor to senior falls. Stock up on batteries, lightbulbs, and candles.
- Don’t leave candles unattended
- It almost doesn’t feel like fall without a pumpkin spice candle burning, so stay aware and never leave a candle burning unattended. There is always an uptick in the cooler months of house fires caused by improper candle use. Keep lit candles away from high traffic areas and pets, and don’t forget to blow them out before going to sleep.
- Consider a PERS device
- a PERS device is a Personal Emergency Response System or medical alert device. These can be worn around the neck or on a belt clip or hung in an easily accessible area in the home. They’re small, water-resistant, and can fit into a bag or purse. With a push of a button you can be in contact with family, friends, or even 911 after a fall or other accident. A PERS device can save you or your loved ones life.
- Don’t forget Daylight Savings Time
- Daylight Saving is Sunday, November 7th, 2021 this year. With that change in time will come shorter days, so the sun will start going down much earlier than it’s been over the summer. It’s important to keep this in mind when you need to drive anywhere in the evenings. Take evaluation of yourself or the seniors in your life to make sure that their eyesight is still sufficient to drive at night.
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