These 5 tips will help your elderly parents stay warm during the harsh cold wave

With the recent cold wave alert in north India, it is necessary to keep your elderly parents warm and safe. Check out these 5 tips for some help.
how to treat toothache
Make sure your parents are warm and healthy this winter season. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Shreya Gupta Published: 30 Dec 2020, 11:30 am IST
  • 71

Although this season is all about festivity and holidays, it is also a time of gloom and cold weather that can become problematic for those who have elderly parents. 

During the cold season, there’s a common issue called hypothermia that occurs, when the body temperature falls below 95°F. It can turn dangerous, raising kidney and liver problems. And since your parents tend to lose body temperature faster, it is important to be prepared with all that they need to sail through this season. 

So, to prevent any such situation, it is important to take care of your parents and protect them against the harsh cold. Here are five tips that will certainly come to your rescue.

1. Keep the house warm

Older adults feel much colder than you and I, that’s why it is important to ensure that your parents are warm enough. Make sure they have everything in place, and they are not required to go out of the house every now and then, especially at night. Keep the windows and doors properly closed and sealed during the chilly winter months, and make them wear adequate layers of clothing.

2. Keep them physically active

Exercising is very important even for your parents, and no matter how good they feel lying under the blanket the entire day, you need to ask them to move around the house, and do some form of physical activity. Exercise or any physical activity will keep the stiffness, lethargy and winter blues away, and will further keep the blood flowing.

Make your parents start with simpler exercises. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
3. Shower using lukewarm water

Ask them to shower with lukewarm water and not sizzling hot water, even when it is extremely cold outside! This can cause sudden changes in their body temperature, which can make them fall sick. Moreover, it can also make their skin extremely dry, so always make sure they opt for lukewarm water, while taking a bath.

4. Keep them protected from carbon monoxide

If you tend to use fireplaces or room heaters for your parents, then make sure the room is well-ventilated and no matter what, don’t keep it on for the whole night. Poor ventilation can increase the levels of carbon monoxide in the room, which can prove to be dangerous for their health.

5. Keep them hydrated

During the winter season, we all tend to drink less water, and this can make your parents dehydrated, leading to other complications such as constipation and dryness. So, make sure you help them maintain their daily water intake. If they are unable to drink room temperature water, give them lukewarm water to sip on the entire day.

  • 71
About the Author

Finding nirvana in good food, Shreya also loves reading books and is a die-hard Potterhead. Confident and motivated she's fun to be with. Plus food. Always. ...Read More

Next Story