Senior Citizen Precautions During Severe Winter Weather

Winter months often provide some of the most beautiful outdoor scenes, but winter is also unpredictable. Winter storms can occur quickly and without warning, causing power outages, stranding people in their homes or cars, and creating unsafe driving and walking conditions.

Seniors and people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable during severe winter weather and should take extra precautions to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature conjures up.

Here are some tips to help older and disabled adults stay safe in winter weather:

5 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Seniors

October 18, 2010 | Posted by: Carol Marak | Posted in: Health & Nutrition for Indianapolis Seniors,Indianapolis Elder Home Care | Tagged: Winter Safety tips —

5 Essential Winter Safety Tips for Seniors


The winter months present a unique set of challenges for seniors, and they need to take added precautions in order to provide for their health and safety during a season that brings cooler temperatures, and the joy of the holiday season.

Warm Weather Triggers Early Allergy Season

While unseasonably warm weather delights many people, those with allergies may not be as thrilled with the early arrival of spring.

Arriving along with those beautiful blooms is plenty of pollen that has hay-fever sufferers sneezing at least a few weeks sooner than normal.

And, in some areas, not only is the season starting early, but the pollen counts are breaking records. Several days ago, Atlanta's pollen count reading was 9,369 particles of pollen per cubic meter, which is 55 percent higher than the old record high set in 1999. Normally, anything above 1,500 is considered high in the Atlanta area, according to the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (ACAAI).

"Tree pollen in some parts of eastern U.S. started in early February, which is about three to four weeks early, and some areas have had record high counts for days and weeks. For the one in four people who has allergies, this is having a cumulative effect. The longer you get exposure, the worse the problem becomes," explained Dr. James Sublett, an allergist and spokesman for the ACAAI.

He said mold counts haven't been high yet, but normally in the winter, mold is gone once the ground freezes. "We've had some mold counts in the moderate range here in Louisville, Ky., and because of the nice weather people are outside more. Again, it's that continuous exposure that makes allergies even worse."