Keeping Warm and Safe: Cold Weather Tips for Family Caregivers

As we head deeper into fall, we begin to feel its effects --- chillier mornings, rain, cold winds, and a lot less sunlight. For most of us, these are simply the signs that winter is coming as we throw on a jacket and go about our daily lives.

For individuals challenged with dementia, however, these changes often cause a higher degree of anxiety. The time change, for instance, brings confusion along with its darker evenings. And, climates with snow and icy sidewalks create physical challenges that can turn a simple walk outside into a potential fall.

If you are a family caregiver of a loved one living with dementia, here are a few of the tips from the Alzheimer’s Association to safeguard them from the dangers of cold weather:

1. Make sure they wear loose layers of clothing. The air between the fabric keeps the skin warmer.
2. Have a waterproof jacket handy to repel rain and snow.
3. Keep clothing for warmer temperatures stored and out of sight to eliminate inappropriate choices.
4. Keep the thermostat at 68 degrees or higher.
5. Close off unused rooms to keep main rooms warmer and save on gas and electricity.
6. Make sure your loved one doesn’t try to heat the room by turning on the oven or burners on the stove. Consider safety knobs or other ways to limit access if necessary.
7. Make sure your loved one wears sturdy, flat shoes outside and always walk alongside them.
8. When the temperature drops into freezing, keep outdoor visits to a minimum and be alert to signs that could lead to hypothermia: swollen face, shivering, slowed speech, confusion, etc.

Remember, too, that as we head out of daylight saving time, sundown syndrome may create additional challenges for your loved one. The earlier evening darkness can create confusion, so be sure to turn on lights before the sun goes down. Make the most of daylight by keeping drapes open if possible and stick to your regular schedule to avoid unnecessary confusion.

While fall and winter bring shorter days and colder weather, it can bring much enjoyment as well. Taking special precautions and being extra patient with your loved one will help everyone better cope with these changes. For instance, if your loved one has always lived in a colder climate, try pulling out a photo album of earlier snow pictures. Or watch a movie together that is set in the winter.

Focusing your loved one on the positive things associated with colder weather such as the upcoming holidays, family visits and warm, home cooked meals, will make those cold, wintery days easier to navigate.

(Our header image shows a row of delightful snow people built by local school children outside the windows of Emerald Place Memory Care residents in Glenview, Illinois!)