Senior safety in all seasons

Photo by dep377, Pixabay

Much of the United States is enjoying springtime right now: warmer weather, lighter days, blossoms on trees, breezes that invigorate rather than chill, and a sense of new possibility in the air (along with a few allergens). Or, as poet Christina Rossetti put it, “Spring is when life’s alive in everything.”

It’s also a time when many people rouse themselves to do a little organizing, or maybe even a major clean-out and renovation. And that got us thinking about the ways each season of the year might affect perceptions of safety at home for folks striving to “age in place” by continuing to live independently. Different times of year can mean different dangers, but the changing seasons can also bring new opportunities to light that could increase both safety and livability at home. So let’s take things one season at a time:

Spring

Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina that “spring is the time of plans and projects.” For someone striving to age in place, spring might be a time when a person, enticed by the bright sunshine and blooming flowers, sees possibilities for greater mobility and enjoyment of their home environment—and may also see obstacles to that mobility and enjoyment.

For example, while a senior might have a nice ramp helping them enter and exit their home, they may have very few safe ways to enjoy the outdoor spaces around a home. That’s when family members could step in to help a senior create wheelchair- or walker-friendly paths through their yard, or possibly a hardscape patio accessible from the house that allows for outdoor time. These areas should be shaded, easily accessed, as pleasantly appointed as possible, and large enough to accommodate the turnaround needs of a wheelchair or other mobility aid. 

Or, far more simply, a senior may discover that heavy blinds or drapes keep them from enjoying the awakening of nature from their windows, and may want to transition to simpler, lighter window treatments that take little strength to operate. Some even have remote controls! Installing things like bird feeders, planter boxes, and outdoor mobiles within easy sight of the windows of a person who has limited mobility can greatly improve their quality of life and add interest to their daily routine. Some companies even offer windowsill versions of these products that seniors can replenish or care for themselves.

Spring’s more frequent rains could also mean that hazards in seniors’ home environments, like muddy paths or leaky roofs or porches, might become more obvious and require repairs.

Summer

One of summer’s greatest hazards for aging people is heat. Harvard Medicine, the magazine of Harvard Medical School, reported last year that “more than 80 percent of the estimated 12,000 people in the United States who die of heat-related causes annually are over age 60.” However, the magazine suggests that at least some of these deaths, as well as other heat-related health problems, are at least partially preventable if seniors’ doctors “stay abreast of the literature on risk factors and, when heat looms in the forecast, consider warning, checking in with, or adjusting relevant medications of the vulnerable.”

Seniors can also help themselves by staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. They and their families should also be extra vigilant in the early summer, before bodies have a chance to acclimate to greater heat. In addition, air conditioners can be extremely helpful, even if they are just inexpensive room or window units. If a senior’s home doesn’t have air conditioning, consider helping them spend time in a cooling center, which is an air-conditioned space set aside to help people cool down during heat waves. These can be libraries, community centers, shopping centers, or even movie theaters, and most states have them. Search the internet for “cooling centers near me” to find out what’s available in your area.

Of course, people who want to spend time at a cooling center need to be able to get out of their homes. Summer is a good time to check the safety of your loved one’s home entry and exit points. Make sure everything is in good repair and be realistic about whether it’s time to elevate the person’s level of support; from a single rail to a double rail down a short flight of steps, for example; or from stairs to a ramp. Make sure they have water or other hydration sources with them when venturing out, and encourage them to wear a hat and sunscreen to protect from the worst of the heat while outdoors.

Of course, when properly protected there are benefits to spending time outdoors in the summer. If elderly people want to enjoy their yard as they age, they could consider adding raised beds to make gardening more accessible, or at least invest in a rolling garden seat to help them work more easily. Sensory gardens filled with bright blooms, strong-scented and easy-to-grow herbs, textured or fuzzy leaves, and hardy vegetables can provide great enjoyment and stimulation throughout the year. Consider stocking it with memory-stimulating plants like small, fragrant lilac bushes, lavender, or vegetables that are lifelong favorites. Seniors should stay hydrated, keep their heads covered, and limit time outside to a few hours at most, but yard work can be a cherished activity for many people—especially if they have someone to share it with.

Fall

The bright colors of autumn are also the source of one of fall’s hazards: falling leaves. The best ramps and outdoor pathways can become hazardous if they’re covered with wet, slippery, disintegrating leaves. Even dry leaves can make it harder to navigate these outdoor spaces. So make sure your loved one’s home is as free as possible of leaves on porches, pathways, and other outdoor traverses. Check back frequently so that this chore is done throughout the season.

In addition, fall is a great time to ensure that seniors’ home heating systems are properly maintained and ready for action as the weather gets cold. Schedule a maintenance appointment and change any filters that need changing. If your furnace doesn’t have an updated control interface, consider upgrading it to one that can be programmed. If the home has a fireplace that is used by residents, it also may need to be inspected and possibly cleaned. Rarely, a chimney will need repairs or other more intensive work to be in as safe a condition as possible. On a related note, fall is a good time to replace batteries in a home’s fire and carbon monoxide detectors.

On a smaller scale, you can also make sure of your stocks of various items that make winter more manageable, from sturdy, slip-resistant footwear that’s easy to put on and take off to car brushes, salt for porches and pathways, draft stoppers for doors, winter wearables, and the like. And get your flu shot!

Winter

During the coldest days of winter, many seniors hunker down at home, waiting out the chill in coziness. While this is a great idea from the standpoint of physical safety, it can be a bit detrimental to mental health. Loneliness is at epidemic levels among older Americans, with between a quarter and a third of people over age 45 reporting feeling lonely consistently, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Social isolation can increase the risk of premature death at levels that rival smoking and obesity, as well as boosting the likelihood a person will experience dementia, heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety and suicide. And while isolation can be a problem year round, it can be especially acute in wintertime, when weather conditions and concern about avoiding winter cold and flu viruses keeps more seniors at home.

Fortunately, there are ways to combat loneliness, and everyone from seniors themselves to neighbors, loved ones, and caregivers can help. Most communities have local senior centers that offer programs, including many virtual ones these days, that can give seniors something to look forward to and help them experience social interactions. There may be outings available in which seniors are picked up at home and escorted safely to an activity, then taken home again. These types of activities avoid many of the risks of seniors venturing out on their own and provide vital social interaction.

Neighbors can look in on their senior streetmates and maybe pick up their mail and take it in to them on particularly stormy days. They can take by soup or other nourishing foods, and just make sure the elderly person knows they have a friend nearby who likes them, enjoys their company, and is looking out for them. Health care providers can share resources with elderly patients and offer services like tele-health and remote mental health counseling appointments in case those are needed. And loved ones can check in, spend time (in person or over video chats and phone calls), and enjoy as much time as possible with their loved one while they have a chance to do so.

Mark Twain once wrote, “I like to think that to one in sympathy with nature, each season, in turn, seems the loveliest.” Whether it’s the first blush of a new spring, the tawny glow of summer, or the graceful ebbing away of a golden fall into a silvery winter, each season can have its blessings if we’re prepared to receive them. And if there’s anything we at Evolve can do to help make your home safer through every season of your life, we’d love to do so.