6 winter care tips for senior citizens

Winter is here and aren't we happy about it! While the feel-good season means time for a whole lot of holidays, festivities and binge-watching your favorite content on TV, there are a few things that are not quite as charming as these. The dull, cold weather can cause some problems and it is important to equip yourself with all that you need in order to get through the season unscathed.

The winter season brings with it a few challenges and health-related risks, especially for the elderly. We are here to present you with a list of tips and best practices so you can make certain that you avoid common cold weather-related problems this winter. 6 handy winter self-care tips for seniors

Stay warm

Hypothermia, a sudden and substantial drop in the body temperature, is a condition one can suffer from in cold climates. Seniors are at a higher risk of developing this condition since their bodies cannot withstand low temperatures for long periods of time. It is best to ensure that the senior members of your family stay indoors and have everything they need to stay warm, especially at night. In case you notice a change in the skin tone or texture, inexplicable fatigue and changes in the heartbeat or breathing.

Stay active

While winters may seem like the perfect season to stay in bed for longer periods, curl up and stay indoors all day, it is recommended that you keep yourself active and engaged. Any form of exercise can help increase your heart rate, regulate the blood flow and keep winter-related depression, lethargy, stiffness, and pain away. Physical activity also makes you sweat, in the process flushing out toxins and keeping your skin healthy.

Stay hydrated

It is natural to not feel as thirsty during winters as you usually do around the year. Since there is a lack of moisture in the air, the dryness can extract water from your body. Make sure you maintain an abundant intake of water. If you don't feel like having chilled water, drink water at room temperature or make yourself a lukewarm lemonade that you can sip on throughout the day.

Take care of your skin

The cold and dry air we spoke about earlier can also make your skin's natural oils vanish, and nobody likes dry, itchy or flaky skin! While the human body is designed to keep the outer skin healthy and hydrated, winters make it difficult for the oil or sweat glands to do their job efficiently. Using certain skincare products and following a strict routine can go a long way in ensuring that your skin stays fresh, soft and healthy. Make sure you take good care of your feet and heels. Consider using foot washer that gives you a home pedicure in the most hassle-free way possible

Shower using lukewarm water

Admit it “There is nothing quite as satisfying as a sizzling hot shower when it is freezing cold outside! But while hot showers feel great, they also cause problems for your skin. The skin dries up quickly after a hot shower and this can lead to cracks or eczema. Lukewarm showers, on the other hand, followed by a moisturizing routine can help avoid skin dryness.

Body Warming Patch

Body warming patch uses advanced technology to help you relieve pain on waist, shoulder and stomach that are caused by cold. The thin, soft patch is super easy to use. Just apply the patch on the part where you want to create heat. The heat generated from the patch helps in healing the pain and keep you warm in the winter season.

We hope these simple tips will help you get through winter without any problems. In case you have any questions, feel free to shoot them in the comments section below. Stay healthy, stay happy this winter!

(Adapted from an article published from https://www.seniority.in/blog/5-winter-care-tips-for-senior-citizens/)

As the winter sets in

Today’s blog is based on our experience of serving the senior citizens over the last few years. We have observed that incidents pertaining to health among the elderly seem to spike during December and January. Although this phenomenon is not unique yet never did it catch our attention till started working in this filed. So,here are a few probable reasons, or better still, causes which we have identified as catalysts for health issues.

a) First and foremost, ever-increased air pollution in metropolitan cities like

Kolkata. Come winter and the entire city remains blanketed by smog during

better part of the day. It is the price we pay for rapid unbridled

urbanization of the cityscape resulting in poor air quality which effects our

lungs and breathing.

b) Second, a tendency to avoid taking regular bath and also wearing more than

adequate woolen garments to insulate oneself against cold. These practices

backfire as the body heat does not get released. This adds to physical

discomfiture often resulting in critical health problems.

c) Third, not performing regular exercise and even it means daily walks in the

morning and evening. As we know, laziness gets better of us during the

pleasant winter season of Kolkata and we may have to pay a hefty price for

this.

d) Fourth, consuming less than adequate water ase we do not feel thirsty like

in the summers. This is a potential source for health complications. Due to

lack of fluid intake, toxins accumulate inside our body and do not get

flushed-out. This results in brain fog, fatigue, sleep impairment etc.

We have outlined only a few factors contributing towards increased incidence of

health issues among the senior citizens during the winter. However, suffice to say

if precautions are taken with respect to the points mentioned above one can go a

long way to reduce the need for emergency hospitalization etc.

Dementia – 3 ways to keep brain young

The article on Dementia: Three ways to 'keep your brain young - they are not diet or exercise’ was authored by Harriet Whitehead on Nov. 13, 2021 in www.express.co.uk

“The NHS (National Health Service) says that there is good evidence that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk of developing dementia. Although there are some risk factors you can’t change, there are many that you can. This will not mean that you definitely do not develop the condition but can make it less likely.

Harvard Health Publishing says that there are “ways to keep your brain young”. Some surround diet and exercise, though there are a number of other factors. These include advising that you “care for your emotions”. It says that “people who are anxious, depressed, sleep-deprived, or exhausted tend to score poorly on cognitive function tests” so good mental health and restful sleep are important. Moreover, you should “protect your head” as moderate to severe head injuries, even without diagnosed concussions, increase the risk of cognitive impairment.

Thirdly, you should consider building social networks. It states: “Strong social ties have been associated with a lower risk of dementia, as well as lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy.”

The Alzheimer's Society (AS) notes that midlife – from your 40s into your early 60s – is a good time to start taking steps to reduce your risk of developing dementia, though it is helpful to take steps at any age. “The brain changes that cause dementia can start years or even decades before symptoms develop. If you live a healthy lifestyle now, you are reducing the chances that these brain changes will happen,” it adds.

There are five more common types of dementia and these are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.By 2025, Dementia UK reports more than one million people will be living with dementia in the UK.