Caring for the Elderly after the Holidays
During
the holiday season, families pay special attention to their elderly members. As
the holidays pass, however, families often spend less time visiting elderly
relatives. Winter is a dangerous time for seniors, bringing
with it an elevated risk of cold-related illnesses.
If you are a caregiver, or interact with elderly clients in the course of your practice, you are in a unique position to identify physical, psychological, and financial problems at an early stage.
Common winter risks include:
Hypothermia. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, "hypothermia may develop over hours or days as a result of poor body heat regulation, inability to properly sense the cold, or living in a cold environment in the winter." Seniors may try to save money by turning down their heat to an unsafe level, leading to conditions under which hypothermia may develop. Heating assistance is available to seniors through LIHEAP.
Dehydration. Although dehydration is a problem for the elderly throughout the year, it becomes particularly dangerous in winter. Seniors are less sensitive to thirst signals, and may drink less during the cold, dry months of winter.
Seasonal Affective Disorder. Triggered by decreased levels of light in winter, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) causes episodes of depression. The National Mental Health Association reports that January and February are the most common months for symptoms of SAD to appear.
As a caregiver or professional services provider with elderly clients, you
may be the only person to notice signs of these common winter ailments. During
winter, pay special attention to the mood, appearance, and general physical
condition of your older clients.