Blog - Page 14 of 22 - Green Tree Home Care

If you live in California, the recent devastating wildfires have most likely not missed your notice.

It is hard to build something for years only for fire to destroy it in a matter of minutes.

As a caregiver or an elder yourself, times like these are scary.

In today’s post, I will be sharing some helpful pointers that will help you and your loved one stay safe during this season and a number of things you can do to protect yourself financially if you’re hit by such a disaster.

Staying Safe During A Season of Fires

If you live in California, you may have noticed that the air is incredibly dry. This makes it easier for fires to accelerate once they are started. Make sure that if you start an open flame in or outside your house, you put it out COMPLETELY before you leave. This includes your gas stove, barbecues outside, fire pits and camp fires. Don’t accidentally start the next wildfire because you’re in a hurry.
If you smoke, it is important you put out the cigar/cigarette completely when you’re done smoking.
Using an oxygen tank? Don’t smoke near it.
Make sure you read and understand your rental or homeowners insurance plan. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people to lose their homes in disasters and be told by insurance companies that none of the property they lost was covered under the insurance plan. A better insurance plan for disasters may be a few dollars more than a basic plan that only covers some of your loss or (in most cases nothing at all).
Consider starting an emergency savings fund just for situations like this. It will take the edge off the financial burden that comes from a natural disaster.
Check to make sure the fire alarm and carbon dioxide alarm in your home are working.
If you hear about wildfires in your area and you are instructed to evacuate, evacuate immediately. It’s helpful to have an emergency kit prepared so you can take off with your family quickly. Items to place in your emergency kit include:
- Water – At least one gallon per person for the next three days.
- Food – Non-perishable items like canned goods, crackers and granola bars work well.
- Battery-powered or hand cranked radio so you can get updates.
- First aid kit.
- Extra batteries.
- Whistle to signal for help.
- Moist towelettes/wipes
- Diapers/incontinence products
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phones with extra batteries
Safeguard critical documents. You will need to prove your identity and financial information when the time comes to file claims. Make sure to safeguard critical documents like:
- house/rental payments
- insurance cards
- bank statements – NOTE: If you have a bank with online banking, you can obtain this information by signing into your account online. Thus, if you haven’t created an online account with your bank, now is the time to do so!
- sources of income/pay stubs
- tax statements – NOTE: By inputting your information on the IRS website, you should be able to gain access to the last three years of your tax history if you have filed taxes over the last three years.
- birth certificates
- social security cards
- passports and driver’s licenses
Pack a box with any precious memories you want to save.
Drink a lot of water. The weather is very dry during this time.
If you are going to leave on your own, call a family member so that they know where you are.
Keep a small stash of cash on you. ATMs may not function or may run out of gas during the disaster.
Fill your car up with gas so you are ready to go if you need to evacuate.
Have a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s, read this post for what to do during a disaster.

Final Thoughts

Each year, natural disasters all across the United States remind us that everything could be gone in a minute.

In a lot of instances, there is nothing we can do about it.

However, there is a lot we can do to prepare for it and stay safe during.

In this post, I have share twelve things you can do to prevent, prepare for and stay safe during a wildfire or any disaster for that matter.

Share this with someone else so they can be prepared.

Did the recent California wildfires affect you?

We realize that this might be a difficult time for you as a caregiver or an elder affected by the fires.

There is some good news for California wildfire victims who are on Medicare: the deadline to enroll in and/or review and change your options for 2019 has been extended.

Regular open enrollment for Medicare ends on December 7. However, the fires may have caused you to move out of your home. Because of this, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare have given California wildfire victims an enrollment extension.

The Human and Health Services has categorized the fires as a public health emergency and thus they have also made other provisions for Medicare beneficiaries.

What you should know.

If you are or your elderly loved one is a Medicare beneficiary, here’s what is available to you.

Haven’t enrolled yet? Call the Medicaid hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on how to take advantage of the extension.

Waivers for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and assistance for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Here’s what that means.
- If you have recently exhausted your SNF benefits, you could get renewed SNF coverage without having to start a new benefit period.
- You had to evacuate or be transferred because of the wildfires. If you or your loved one needs skill nursing care (SNF), you can get temporary emergency coverage without a qualifying hospital stay.
- If you lost your prescription medications in the fire, Medicare may cover the replacement cost of those medications. You can get coverage for up to the quantity your pharmacy originally dispensed.
- To get more knowledge on what might be covered during this public health emergency period, you can either call the hotline or read detailed information here.

Because this is a public health emergency, Medicare Advantage plans will have to waive prior authorization and any similar requirements. This will help affected beneficiaries get care from non-network providers and hospitals faster.

Are you on dialysis? If you cannot get care from your regular provider, call the Northern California patient hotline at 800-637-4767 or the hotline number in Southern California at 800-637-4767. They will help you sort out where you can go for care.

It’s a difficult time…

We realize that these fires are a difficult time for everyone in so many different ways.

If you were looking to hear some good news during this time, I hope this helped.

At the very least, call the Medicare hotline to find out what is available to you.

A wedding is happening in the family and photos are just not going to cut it.

Your senior loved one wants to be there.

The only problem? It’s a destination wedding, so, you and your elderly loved one are going to have travel out of the country.

Don’t worry.

International travel with seniors doesn’t have to be scary.

In fact, if you plan it properly, it could be a memorable and perhaps much-needed trip for everyone involved.

In this post, I will be sharing 5 tips you should take note of when you’re traveling internationally as a caregiver with your elderly loved one.

Call the Travel Security Administration (TSA) ahead of your travel

Passengers who are 75 and above can receive an expedited form of screening. So if you are traveling with a senior who is 75 find out what the those expedited procedures will be when you get to the airport.

In addition to this benefit, if your elderly loved one is disabled or uses assistive medical devices, TSA can make special accommodations for them if you call or e-mail at least 72 hours before travel.

You can e-mail TSA Cares at TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov or call them at 855-787-2227 from 8am to 11pm EST during the week and 9am to 8pm EST on weekends and holidays.

Call or e-mail TSA Cares about your elderly loved one’s medical condition or disability.
Also inform them if you and your loved one will be traveling with a service animal, oxygen tanks, medical gels, syringes or any other medications like insulin.
It is best if you have medical documentation to back up your elderly loved one’s diagnosis. A simple letter from your doctor stating the medical condition will be helpful.
Filling out a TSA Disability Notification Card will allow your loved one to be screened with their needs in consideration.
Alternatively, you can consider getting TSA PreCheck. This is an expedited form of security screening that is considerably shorter than the regular screening lines. It costs $85 and will last for five years. Find out more about TSA PreCheck here.

Call airline customer service ahead of your travel

Calling the airline ahead of your travel plans is also helpful.

If you inform most airlines, they will dispatch people to assist elders with getting on and off the plane, wheelchair transport and with a seating plan that suits your elderly loved one on the journey.

If your loved one is on a special diet, calling the airline customer service ahead of time will ensure that they have the right choices for them.

Pack the essentials

Make a detailed list ahead of time and make sure you pack medications and other home care medical supplies your loved one will need when you reach your destination.

It is also important to pack some of these items in an easily accessible bag so that if they are need during travel, you can easily access those.

It is a pain when you have to open up large pieces of luggage to search for stuff.

Essentials that can go into this “emergency bag” include:

Incontinence products like adult diapers
Wipes
Facial tissue
Insulin
Inhaler
Pain medication like Ibuprofen or Tylenol
Lotion/petroleum jelly
Snacks- For low blood sugar situations

If your loved one has a prescription that will run out while you’re traveling internationally, make sure to either carry the prescription so an international pharmacy can use it or get a refill right before the trip.

Get your travel documents in order

Will you need to get a visa? Do you already have a passport?

Make sure to iron out these details before you buy your tickets.

Choose your seats

As much as possible and especially if your elderly loved one has a medical condition, it is ideal that you buy a seat next to them so you can help them on the trip.

If you are hiring a travel companion to come along with you, you can do the same thing.

Aisle seats are especially helpful for getting to the bathroom easily. If you have the opportunity to pick those, do so.

On the day of travel, give yourselves plenty of time

Get to the airport early. At least an hour ahead of the flight boarding time is always a safe cushion.

Even though you may have called TSA ahead of time, there is no telling what might be happening at the airport that day.

If you get there on time, you and your elderly loved one will not feel rushed and you will be able to navigate your trip smoothly and without agitation!

Enjoy the trip

What is it they say?

You only live once?

You might not always have an opportunity to travel so enjoy the trip. Take in the sights. And make some great memories.

Enjoyed this post?

Share it with someone else who might be getting their elderly loved one ready for international travel.

Learning a new skill is a great way to keep one’s memory active.

This is because when you learn, you are training your brain to think in a different way than it is normally used to.

In a recent post on the blog, I talked about the various ways you can encourage your loved one to stay active.

One of those ways was to encourage your elderly loved one to pick and learn a new skill.

After I wrote that post, I figured I would dedicate a whole post to sharing a list of skills anyone can pick up and learn at any age.

So here are 20 new skills your elderly loved one can pick up and learn in 2019. Hey, you might even benefit from this list yourself!

Learn new skills: 21 skills seniors can learn in 2019

Writing- think novels, screenplays and poetry!
Photography- with our cellphones having cameras that are more powerful than the most expensive cameras 50 years ago, this is an easy skill to start learning.
Photo/video editing
Film-making
Quilt-making
Dress-making
Knitting
Pottery
Painting
Coding
Blogging
A musical instrument
A sport – Surfing, soccer, volleyball, swimming, golf are all great sports to learn if you never learned them before. Make sure to get the green light from the doctor before signing up for physically strenuous sports.
Acting
A new language- We live in a largely international world now. Speaking another language is a great way to learn about the world.
Computer skills- this would include things like using the internet or using Microsoft Word and Excel
Cooking
Entrepreneurship- Nobody is ever too old to start a business.
Gardening
Public speaking- Older people have tons of life experience to share with audiences. A local Toastmasters meeting is a good place to get started with learning how to speak publicly.
Dancing

The advantages of learning a new skill

I already mentioned how learning a new skill helps with keeping a person mentally sharp. This is true whether you are a caregiver or you are reading this for your elderly loved one.

Here are some other advantages of learning a new skill you may have not considered.

If learning the new skill involves going to a class at least once a week, this could be helpful in getting your elderly loved one socially active. A lot of elders cite loneliness as a problem especially when all their children, grandchildren and other family members live far away from them. In short, learning fights loneliness.
Learning a new thing can be fun! When we are genuinely having fun, there is a lesser risk for mental health issues.
If learning a new skill involves exercise, you should know that exercise releases endorphins. Endorphins interact with your brain cells to give you a sense of well-being.
Learning improves memory.
Learning a new skill fights boredom.
When you become equipped with a new skill, it makes you a more interesting person.

Closing Thoughts

Learning a new skill is a great way to stay active regardless of age.

For seniors, learning is a wonderful way to stave off boredom, depression, loneliness and memory problems.

In this post, I shared 21 skills seniors can learn in 2019 to stay active.

And as a matter of fact, you don’t have to wait until next year; you can start right now.

Enjoyed this post?

Consider sharing it with someone else!

Getting older does not mean a person’s mind and body have to go dull.

It is possible for seniors to stay active mentally, physically and socially for a long time.

As a caregiver, you can help your elderly loved one stay active by encouraging them to engage in a combination of the activities I share in this post.

Keeping Seniors Active

Social Interaction

Social interaction is essential to the success of any human being. One method of keeping seniors active is encourage them to get involved in social situation. The could include:

Dinner with family members and/or friends
Game nights that are designed especially for seniors in the community
Local fairs and festivals with family members
Church or other religious events

Physical Activity

Another way to get seniors active and engaged is to encourage them to get physically active.

Offer to exercise with them. People are more likely to work out when other people do it with them. Take a walk with them in the park, ride a bike together or offer to do a video exercise program with them.
Make it easy. Chances are that your elderly loved one is not exercising for a body-building competition. So keep the exercises easy and fun.
The National Institute of Health recommends that adults exercise for at least 30 minutes everyday. As we get older, it understandably gets harder to work out. In this case, research has shown that getting healthcare providers on board is helpful.

Games for mental sharpness

It is helpful if you can help your elderly loved one stay sharp mentally. Examples of games you can try include:

Crossword puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles
Sudoku
Video games
Chess
Checkers

And I am sure you can think of more if you wanted to. The point here is to incorporate a game your elderly loved one enjoys into their daily routine to help them stay mentally sharp.

Games have also been shown to be helpful in seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Nobody is ever too old to learn

It is possible to teach an old companion new tricks!

If your elderly loved one does not use a computer, now would be a great time for them to take that computer class at your local community college.

Other skills the elderly can take up as a way to stay active include:

Writing
Pottery
Quilt-making
Computer coding
First aid
A sport
A new musical instrument

The list is endless here. Learning a new thing is a great way to help your senior loved one stay active.

Volunteering

Volunteering is an excellent way to help your senior loved one stay active.

Not only will they be undertaking an activity that keeps their mind sharp, they will get to interact with other people and that will help meet social needs.

Closing Thoughts

Staying active keeps the mind and body sharp.

Encouraging your senior loved one to get involved in social, physical and learning activities is an excellent decision.

Everyone deserves to live a full and active life.

In this post, I have shared various ways you can encourage your elderly loved ones to live a more active life.

Did you find this post helpful?

Consider sharing it with someone else!

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health problem. It affects people who have experienced a traumatic life event.

That traumatic event could be anything from murder, rape, physical abuse or a national disaster.

Regardless of the type of traumatic event a person goes through, it is important that you are familiar with the symptoms of PTSD as a caregiver.

Understanding PTSD in older adults

Usually, people associate PTSD with veterans of various wars.

While a there are a number of veterans who live with PTSD, they are not the only ones who experience it.

For instance, I once worked at a facility where a elderly woman on admission was a Holocaust survivor.

It was not uncommon to hear her screaming at night and with requests to save her from the “Fuhrer”.

In that moment, there was nothing we could do or say to calm her down. She was reliving the event as if it was happening in the present.

As a caregiver, it is important that you realize that someone who is going through PTSD is not “crazy”, “weak”, “emotional” or “unable to let go of the past”.

PTSD can happen to anyone at any age. It can happen months and occasionally years after the original event.

Nobody wishes to experience a traumatic event over and over again.

However, for a lot of people who suffer with this mental illness, everything- their racing hearts, the inability to sleep and pure dread they experience when they encounter triggers that remind them of the trauma are very real.

Symptoms of PTSD

People who have PTSD regularly experience flashbacks. During these flashbacks, the event is real again for a PTSD sufferer. They might even begin to call out the names of people who are not present in the room with them.
Nightmares and night terrors. It is common for people with PTSD to experience insomnia that is related to constant nightmares they experience.
People with PTSD may avoid certain places, people or situations that remind them of the trauma. For instance, if the person lived through a train accident, you will find that this person avoids public transportation at all costs.
People with PTSD may be easily startled. Sometimes the things that startle them are things that normally would not startle a person at all.
A person with PTSD may blame themselves for the traumatic event- whether it was their fault or not.
A person with PTSD may begin to talk about harming themselves or suicide. Never take this type of talk lightly. The truth is while the media tends to mostly cover suicides among younger people, the rate of suicide increases sharply for white males after the age of 70 years. Sadly, cases of untreated PTSD have led to not just suicide but murders as well. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. This lifeline is available 24 hours a day everyday. Dial 911 if it is an emergency.
A lack of sleep leading to general tiredness is another symptom of PTSD.
The person no longer enjoys events and activities they enjoyed in the past.

If any of these symptoms happen for more than a month and begin to interfere with a person’s daily functioning, PTSD is likely at play.

What you can do as a caregiver?

PTSD affects the sufferer and impacts the people around them.

I highly recommend that if you begin to notice any of the above symptoms in your elderly loved one that you help them seek professional mental health care.

PTSD is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. It is usually treated with a combination of therapy and medication.

Your role as a caregiver may include helping your loved one set up and attend appointments, finding other mental health care resources in your community and just encouraging words that help them gain perspective.

It is not easy to be the caregiver of a person struggling with PTSD.

So it is alright if you need someone to talk to and lighten your burden as well.

Caregiver self-care is important! You cannot give out of an empty vessel. So take care of yourself as well.

Closing Thoughts

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health issue that affects thousands of people each year.

The impact of PTSD in older adults goes beyond the sufferer alone. It affects relationships and a person’s ability to function normally. It can affect their judgement and decisions and lead to less than ideal consequences.

Thus if you notice any of the symptoms I just discussed above, work to address their needs immediately.

Did you find this post helpful?

Share it with someone who might be caring for a loved one with PTSD.

All of a sudden you find yourself becoming a caregiver for your family.

This is new to you.

You have a million questions and very few answers.

What should you do?

Glad you asked!

In this post, I want to give you five super simple tips that will help you as a first time caregiver.

5 tips for first time care givers

Listen to and respect your loved one’s desires

Listen to your loved one.

This is a difficult time for both of you but tension levels will come down if you take the time to listen to what they have to say.

Listen out for what they need and want.

Even if you disagree with them, respect those wishes.

During old age or a debilitating illness, people feel a sense of helplessness- especially over things they can no longer do- that is made worse when their needs and desires (within reason) are not respected.

Don’t be afraid to talk about money

As a caregiver, don’t be afraid to broach the topic of money.

We have covered many money topics on the blog that you can check out.

When adult children become responsible for their parent’s finances

Estate planning basics

What a fiduciary does and why your parents need one

You will need financial help during the care-giving process. This may require that you hire home care help. Your loved one may need hospital visits and in-home services.

Knowing your loved one’s state of finances and health insurance will help you make better decisions regarding their care.

It is alright if you feel overwhelmed in the beginning

It is alright to admit that you are overwhelmed.

Care-giving is hard and you are not a Superman or Superwoman.

Find out what resources are available to you in your community or state to help you on your care-giving journey.

You don’t have to do it alone

If you have other family members who can relieve you of your duties on certain days take advantage of it.

Hire home care help where necessary. If you live in the San Diego and Orange County areas, Green Tree Home care can help you!

Talk to a therapist or mental health professional. You will be better prepared to handle difficulties that come your way.

Self-care is important

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of taking care of yourself.

You cannot pour out of an empty well. Thus, if you are not taking care of yourself as a caregiver, you do everyone a disservice.

In this post, I share 7 self-care tips for caregivers. Learn and practice them!

Nobody becomes an excellent caregiver overnight.

It takes time, a lot of patience and sometimes the learning curve is steep.

It is however possible to give your loved one’s excellent care and enjoy your life personally.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to share it with someone else.

It is no secret that as we get older, falling and staying asleep is difficult.

If you have experienced it, you are not going out of your mind.

There is a scientific reason behind why insomnia increases as you get older.

Sleep occurs in multiple stages. When you sleep, your body goes through multiple stages of light and deep sleep.

Most older people spend more time in the light stages of sleep and have shorter periods of deep sleep.

No matter who you are, a lack of sleep will leave you tired and frustrated.

In this post, I will talk about five ways to sleep better naturally.

These are for all adults of all ages and is likely to help you improve your sleep patterns if insomnia is something you are struggling with.

5 ways to sleep better naturally

Keep electronic devices out.

The blue light that is emitted by cell phones, tablets and televisions is known to disrupt the production of melatonin.

Melatonin lets your body know that it is night time and prepares your body for sleep. High levels of melatonin is associated with better and more restful sleep.

If you have electronic devices in your bedroom and are using these just before you sleep, it is likely you will not enjoy a good night’s rest.

Secondly, electronic devices keep your mind alert.

This may be good during the day time, but it is bad for you when you are trying to fall asleep.

Thus the first way to get a better night’s sleep naturally is for you to make your bedroom a technology-free zone.

Keep cell phones, tablets and yes, even televisions out of your bedroom.

It is also helpful to put away all electronic devices at least 30 minutes before you fall asleep.

Avoid eating and drinking before bed.

Eating and drinking (a glass of water or tea is fine) before bed is not advisable because apart from the fact that it can contribute to obesity, it also interrupts with your sleep patterns.

Your body has a circadian rhythm. This is an internal clock in our bodies that regulates multiple functions naturally- including sleep.

When you eat just before you go to bed, you are providing the circadian rhythm with information that says “I am eating now so I am not ready to fall asleep”.

If you happen to eat late, allow at least 2 hours to pass before you attempt to fall asleep.

Avoid drinking caffeine before bed.

Drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks is useful for staying alert throughout the day.

Drinking it before bed will not help you sleep naturally.

Limit coffee consumption to at least 4 hours before you go to bed.

Create a bedtime routine

Creating a bedtime routine will help you sleep better naturally because it informs your brain and body that you are ready to go to bed.

Bedtime routines don’t have to be complex or elaborate. However, creating one will put you in the mindset to fall asleep.

Activities like turning off all your electronic devices, turning off all the lights except night lights (we still need to work to avoid falls!), brushing your teeth, washing your face and wearing your pajamas are excellent items to include in your bedtime routine.

Exercise

If you make exercise a part of your daily routine, you will increase your chances of sleeping better naturally.

Exercise helps you stay healthy. It also makes your body tired.

A tired body that needs sleep is more likely to fall asleep.

Include exercise into your daily routine so you can sleep better naturally!

Closing Thoughts

When you sleep, your body is able to heal and repair itself so you can stay healthy.

For many older adults, the aging process sometimes means that you are not getting enough sleep for your body to perform these functions.

This can lead to health issues along the line.

In this post, I have shared five ways to help you sleep better naturally.

These may not completely solve all your sleep problems but I can assure you that they will help immensely.

Did you enjoy this post?

Consider sharing it with someone who is looking for natural ways to fall and stay asleep.

Each year hurricanes, fires, tornadoes and destructive snow storms disrupt the lives of thousands of people.

If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease, that disruption can be a truly difficult one- regardless of who you are.

People with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia are vulnerable when a disaster happens.

Thus having a disaster preparedness plan in place before such an event occurs is important.

In this post, I will share steps you can take to prepare for disasters when you have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s.

Let’s delve right into it.

Disaster preparedness when you are caring for adults with Alzheimer’s Disease

General disaster preparedness

There are disaster preparedness actions we should all be taking whether we have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or not.

Wildfires

Leave your home if you are told to. If your loved one lives apart from you, make preparations to pick them up and leave to a safe area.
If you or your loved one are trapped in your home, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Tune in to your local TV or radio station for the latest safety information and updates.
Use N95 masks so you don’t breathe in ash and other debris from the environment. You can add a number of these when you are preparing your disaster preparedness kit.

Hurricanes

Find a designated safety shelter for you and your loved one to wait out the hurricane especially if your home is not safe to be at.
Pay attention to announcements given by the local TV and radio stations.
Plan on how to communicate with family members if you lose power. Sending a text or posting an update on social media is usually more effective at this time than making a call as the phone lines will likely be busy.
Keep your car in good working condition.
Fill up your gas tank.
Use generators- but outside! Which means if you don’t have a generator, prepare now by getting one.
Evacuate if you’re told to.

Blizzards/Snow Storms

Make sure you have enough food to last you and your loved ones for at least 3 days. Dry and foods that are less likely to perish quickly such as bread, crackers, peanut butter, jelly and drinks like water should be at the top of your list- barring any allergies of course.
Fill up your gas tank.
If you need to move your loved one in with you for the period of the snowstorm or go be with them, please do it.

Special Considerations when you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s/dementia

Because Alzheimer’s/dementia patients are likely to wander, the priority is to make sure they are safe when there is a natural disaster.

This includes:

Ensuring they don’t wander into the cold weather.
Keeping them warm.
Avoiding falls that could be fatal.
During a snowstorm, streets can look confusing. A patient with Alzheimer’s or dementia could lose their way trying to find their way back home.
Ensuring plans for their evacuation during a fire or hurricane.
Making plans for hired caregivers to be around your loved one in case you live far away or are traveling at the time of the disaster.
Placing identifying labels in your loved one’s clothing in case they do wander.

If there is a need for evacuation, make sure you gather:

Incontinence undergarments, wipes, and lotions
Favorite snacks and high-nutrient drinks
The name, address and phone number of your loved one’s doctor
Copies of legal, medical, insurance, and Social Security information
Water-resistant bags to hold medications and documents
Recent photos of the person
Warm clothing and sturdy shoes
Spare eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries
Medications
Flashlights and extra batteries

What should be in your emergency preparedness kit? – Check out and print out these recommendations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Closing Thoughts

There is certainly more to disaster preparedness than I can fit in one post.

In this post, we went over general precautions you should take to prepare for a natural disaster as well as special considerations when you have a loved one who has Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia.

Did you find this post useful?

Print it out to use it to prepare or share it with someone else who needs it.

The colder months are upon us.

If you live in Southern California, you probably still are getting a lot of sunshine even though the air is getting noticeably chilly.

If you live in the Mid-West, the snow has already started and hot chocolate and warm blankets are becoming the daily normal.

No matter where you live, this time of the year is cold.

Older adults can lose body heat fast- much faster than a younger person.

This makes elderly adults more susceptible to health and safety issues that come with the cold weather.

For elderly adults, cold weather can spell the beginning of challenges- cold, influenza, the risk for hypothermia and the onset of rheumatic pain are just a few of the problems.

So how do we help our elderly loved ones live through the winter in a safe and healthy manner?

In this post, I will go over older adults can achieve that.

The elderly and cold weather: Tips to stay safe and healthy.

Arm yourself against the common cold and flu

In this post I talk about 10 home remedies for the common cold.

And in this one, I go over how you can prepare for the flu season.

This is one of the very first steps you can take during this season – that you are protected against diseases that usually come with cold weather.

The resources I cited above will help you get prepared.

Keep warm inside

Some people don’t want to warm their homes especially before November because of the high cost of heating.

We are not disputing the fact that it can get very pricey, very quickly to heat your home.

However, yours and your elderly loved one’s health is not worth the money you may think you are saving by not heating up your home.

Keep your home temperature at 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the minimum during colder months.
Wear warm clothing like a sweater, heavier pants and socks during the colder months.
Drink hot fluids to help you stay warm.
Contact your gas or electric company and ask if they provide discounts that help seniors with the cost of heating up their homes. Some companies even have reasonable plans if your income falls below a certain amount per year.
To save extra on your heating bill:
- keep the doors closed on the rooms you don’t use in your house
- roll a towel in front of the doors in your home to keep drafts out
- keep the basement door closed
- close all windows and keep the blinds closed at night so you don’t lose the heat
If you are an elderly adult who lives alone, have people check on you at least once a day.
If your loved one has dementia or Alzheimer’s it is important to keep an eye on them during this season so that they don’t walk out of the house without the appropriate clothing.

Know the signs of hypothermia

Knowing the signs of hypothermia is critical for you- to be able to recognize it for yourself- and your elderly loved one.

Here’s what you should watch out for.

Early signs of hypothermia:

Cold feet and hands
A puffy or swollen face
Pale skin
Shivering
Slower than normal speech or slurring words
Person seems sleepier than normal
Being angry or confused

Later signs of hypothermia:

Moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy
Stiff and jerky arm or leg movements
Slow heartbeat
Slow, shallow breathing
Blacking out or losing consciousness

If you observe any of these signs in yourself or your elderly loved one, call 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY!

Safety outside the house

Snow, hail and freezing rain in the winter months can make going out a hazard.

Making sure that walkways are shoveled and salted is an important key to preventing falls and related accidents.

Warm your car up for at least 5-10 minutes before you move it to prevent mechanical problems.

Before the weather gets super cold, have a mechanic check your car for antifreeze levels and change your tires if need be.

Closing Thoughts

This is not Game of Thrones but winter is coming.

Staying warm during the colder months should not be an afterthought.

Preparing for it now could be a life-saving decision.

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