Although we often think of cosy evenings and warm drinks as we approach the colder months, it can be a worrying time for many, especially older people.
The days are much shorter as darkness descends at teatime, often quite suddenly, the weather gets colder, and days often seem grey and melancholy. Harsher weather such as ice and snow can bring treacherous conditions on pavements and driveways, making getting about much more difficult for everyone.
So, at this time of year, across all our homes, we are working even harder to ensure our residents are not just warm and secure but also in good spirits.
In preparation for the winter months, our care teams get together to address potential hazards and risks, this includes a checklist of key signs to look out for that may indicate a resident is under the weather, suffering from the cold or undernourished. Winter weather brings increased risk of colds or flu and we work with the local health authorities to ensure residents are vaccinated with the latest flu jabs.
Stay Warm
Our carers check to ensure residents are appropriately dressed both inside the home and for any visits outside. We may recommend to family members the addition of a favourite blanket, wrap or cardigan for use at this time of year. Suitable footwear is also essential for any forays outside.
Eat Well
Food and drink are also incredibly important during the winter months and our kitchen teams ensure hearty, healthy meals are on the menu using seasonal produce. Soups, casseroles and old-fashioned puddings feature heavily on the menu at this time of year. We ensure that hot drinks are always available, via our trolley service and at self-service stations in our homes and these are also available on request.
Residents are regularly monitored to ensure they are eating enough, and individual nutrition plans set up to adapt food intake where necessary to combat any issues.
Keep Active
Keeping busy is important for mood and general well-being and we adapt our activity schedule to include more opportunities indoors, music, exercise and craft sessions in particular. We also arrange and encourage more visitors to the homes during winter, volunteers from the local community provide new opportunities for conversation and stimulation.
Safety Outdoors
Externally, our maintenance teams have their work cut out. Cold weather can bring difficult driving conditions and slippery surfaces and with less daylight, many areas can be badly lit. Falling leaves become wet and make pathways hazardous for both walking and wheelchairs.
For elderly people, even slight falls can cause serious injuries which can have ongoing complications. Our team have their work cut out keeping pathways clear so that our residents can still enjoy the fresh air when conditions permit and ensuring our driveways and parking are safe to use for visitors and staff.
This includes checking we have adequate rails on the premises and that these are kept in good condition, that grit is available at all times and surfaces are kept clear of leaves, ice and snow.
There is a lot to keep us busy during the winter months but we look forward to enjoying time with our residents, making warm and welcoming spaces to enjoy good food and company. Winter can be magical as long as we make our homes safe and secure for all.
