Ever on time marches forward, and the winter has come to Georgia once more. While winter brings with it the joy of the holidays, it’s equally important to ensure that you’re keeping up with your well-being! When the weather outside grows colder, it’s time for you or your loved ones to develop a winter wellness plan that can guarantee you stay active even when it’s snowing outside.
As dedicated care professionals, Companion Care of Georgia has been assisting families with elder care, both respite and long-term, throughout 24 counties of Georgia for years. As the premier provider of the highest quality home care, we’re more than familiar with how varied a care plan can be for different elders.
When considering an elderly sitter for your loved one, it’s essential to take into account all the ways a caretaker can help improve the quality of life for an elderly adult, especially in wintertime. An elderly caretaker isn’t just there to supervise a loved one but also to offer companionship and assistance with daily tasks to ensure their safety and well-being.
Winter Self-Care Tips for Seniors:
- Stay physically active with indoor exercises.
- Boost cognitive health with puzzles and games.
- Combat loneliness through companionship.
Physical Wellness
One of the most important things to ensure your well-being during winter time is maintaining a physical regime and continuing a healthy diet that allows you to make up for the time spent indoors. As you age, it can be much more challenging to get outside and continue an intensive workout schedule. As such, you can find alternative ways to continue your workout routine while remaining indoors. Furthermore, it’s essential during winter to increase your Vitamin D intake through healthy meals, as there are few hours of sunlight in the day.
A companion sitter can assist in these areas by supervising during physical activities to guarantee your safety and by helping you with meal planning and preparation to ensure your diet provides you with the vitamins you need.
Consider:
- Fitness Videos Tailored to Older Adults
- Yoga
- Chair Exercises
- Walking Laps Around the House
- Hand Weights
- Chores With Assistance
- Eating Vitamin-rich and Healthy Meals Regularly
Cognitive Wellness
Wellness and activity aren’t just about your physical state. Especially as you age, maintaining your mental acuity and cognition is essential to ensure that you live a long, happy, and healthy life. During the ACTIVE study, the impacts of cognitive training in reasoning and processing over 10 years were shown to lower the chance of cognitive decline.
During winter, your brain should be “exercised” just as frequently as other muscles. By maintaining your cognitive health through engaging your mind with puzzles, word games, and documentaries that teach you new things, you can take control and slow the mental decline that comes with aging. Crafting, such as knitting or painting, can engage your mind and improve your overall mood. These hobbies can also encourage social interaction through discussion and collaboration, especially in the presence of an in-home personal care assistant who can assist you where you might struggle.
Try activities such as:
- Puzzles
- Word Games
- Crafting
- Ted Talks/Documentaries
- Audiobooks/Books
Emotional Wellness
Elderly loneliness has been a long-standing problem facing the aging population. One-third of adults over the age of 50 have reported feelings of isolation. During winter, when it becomes much more challenging to spend time outside of your house, these feelings of isolation can only grow more intense. For those with limited mobility, such as elderly adults, this only increases. Finding ways to mitigate that loneliness becomes especially crucial during winter times. This is where emotional support and understanding from caregivers play a vital role.
Winter loneliness can be reduced through:
- Letter writing: The holiday season is one of the best times to send and receive letters. Even when you cannot leave your house, a letter wishing you well can brighten up your day. Letter writing can also be an excellent way for aging adults to engage the brain and improve hand-eye coordination.
- Volunteering: If you have a trustworthy driver, such as a companion sitter, who can drive you to and from locations, volunteering can be a fun way to not only meet new people but also engage in light physical activity. Consider looking into volunteering opportunities nearby, and find something that suits your physical ability.
- Caretaking companionship: Caretakers and in-home personal assistants offer more than just assistance with household chores and grooming. They can also offer the conversation and companionship that many elderly adults need.
Things to Look Out for this Winter
Beyond maintaining your physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being, it’s also essential to look out for common hazards during winter. Old, drafty houses might struggle to maintain proper temperatures due to faulty insulation, and a forgotten heater could cause damage if left unattended. Older adults are especially susceptible to cold weather during winter, both due to their sensitivity to temperature and dry weather, which can result in cracked and bleeding skin. As such, it’s crucial for elders (or caretakers) to assist with hydration and heat retention.
A caretaker can also:
- Check carbon monoxide detectors
- Assist in driving during hazardous climate
- Ensure an elderly adult is adequately dressed for the season
- Assist in guaranteeing the house maintains above 68 degrees or higher
- Assist with hydration and aid in proper moisturizing
- Aid when walking outside during icy times to avoid falls
More than Just A Caretaker
When it comes to a winter wellness plan, Companion Care of Georgia knows all the ways that an in-home caretaker can brighten up the life of an elderly adult. From safeguarding against common winter hazards to offering assistance with both physical and mental exercise, our professional caretakers are trained to provide professional and respectful care to all our clients. We offer personalized care plans built to help your loved one regain the quality of life they deserve. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how Companion Care of Georgia can help your loved one stay active and healthy this winter!