As the winter weather gets colder, one of your most important concerns as a family caregiver is helping them to stay warm.
Elderly adults are prone to hypothermia, potentially suffering serious health consequences even when the temperature is relatively mild. Even keeping their home thermostat set below 63 could put your aging senior at risk for suffering hypothermia. Many elderly adults, however, worry about the costs associated with keeping their home warm. This means it is critical to find ways to keep your aging parent warm and comfortable while also controlling their energy costs.
Homecare in Upper Darby PA: Controlling Energy Costs
Use these tips to keep your parent’s home warm and comfortable while controlling energy costs:
-Make sure all windows and doors are properly winterized. Adding weather stripping or other sealants to these prevent warm air from inside the home getting outside and preventing cold air from outside getting inside
-If your senior’s home has dry air, consider adding a humidifier to it. Moist air feels warmer than dry air, which means even if the thermostat is set at a lower temperature, the air inside will feel warmer
-Consider turning the heat off to areas of the home your parent does not use frequently and use space heaters to provide extra warmth when your parent is in certain rooms
-Keep the thermostat set at a consistent temperature. Rather than constantly changing the temperature to get warmer and cooler throughout the day, choose a temperature that is comfortable, but not excessively warm, and leave it at that at all times. This means the thermostat will not have to work as hard to regulate the temperature, reducing energy costs
-Open the curtains during the part of the day when the most sun shines directly into them. This will provide radiant warmth to heat up the area.
It is also important to make sure your parent feels warm and comfortable. Encourage them to wear socks at all times to keep their feet warm and reduce heat escaping from their body. Keep blankets throughout the home so your parent can cover up if they need to when they are sitting. Encourage them to sip warm beverages such as tea or broth throughout the day to keep their body temperature up. To further protect your senior from the effects of the cold weather, make sure they are not alone for long stretches of time. Have friends, neighbors, family members, or a senior care provider with your parent frequently to ensure they are warm and are not suffering ill effects of the cold.
Just because you’re taking on the responsibility of being a family caregiver does not mean you have to do it all on your own. Senior care is there to help. A senior home care services provider can do with your aging parent on a completely customized schedule so you can delegate tasks, organize your schedule, and feel confident in your ability to focus on all aspects of your life in the best ways possible.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring HomeCare in Upper Darby, PA, please talk to the caring staff at Better Care Home Health Services LLC today. Serving individuals and their families in Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. Call Today: (267) 766-5218
Better Care Home Health Services is a family-owned agency dedicated to providing excellent and comprehensive home health care to individuals and families of Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. We are honored that God has blessed us with the opportunity to positively impact and change people’s lives. It is our mission to ensure that we provide the very best of care to our clients.
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