Winter is harder on older bodies. Falls on ice, heat lost faster than it used to be, dark afternoons, and storms that knock out power all stack up.
Stay steady on ice
- Ice grippers (traction cleats) slip over any shoes and add grip on snow and ice. They lower the chance of a slip on ice. Just remember to take them off indoors, since they can slide on smooth floors.
- Keep paths salted, and never rush. A lot of winter falls happen hurrying to the door or the car.
My room-by-room fall prevention guide covers the rest of the house.
Keep warm, safely
Older adults lose body heat faster and often don’t feel the cold until it’s a real problem.
- A heated throw for the chair and a heated blanket for the bed deliver steady warmth. Choose ones with an automatic shut-off. One caution: if feeling in the legs or feet has faded, from neuropathy or anything else, an electric blanket can burn skin before it feels too hot. In that case a regular blanket is the safer choice.
- Dress in layers and keep the home comfortably warm. Don’t put a space heater near bedding or anywhere it could be tipped over.
Light the dark afternoons
Winter daylight is short, and dim rooms invite falls.
- Plug-in motion-sensor night lights keep hallways and the path to the bathroom lit without anyone reaching for a switch.
Be ready for a storm
- Keep an emergency weather radio with a flashlight where it can be found in the dark, ideally hand-crank or battery powered.
- Keep warm blankets and a charged phone within reach, and make a backup plan for any medical devices that need power.
When a storm is in the forecast, check in early. A quick call the day before does more good than one after the lights are already out.