Helping Your Loved One Stay Safe During Extreme Weather in Chelsea
Chelsea, Massachusettes, is a beautiful city and a great place for older adults to enjoy their senior years. It does experience its share of extreme weather, though.
It’s a smart idea to prepare for all common types of extreme weather Chelsea experiences in order to keep your senior loved one safe.
This article will discuss the dangers of extreme weather and helpful tips for keeping your senior safe during extreme weather events.
The Dangers of Extreme Weather for Seniors
Aging can make extreme weather events far more hazardous. Physically, older people are more susceptible to heat and cold, making heat waves and cold snaps more dangerous.
Mobility impairments and difficulties with driving can also make it very hard for seniors to evacuate in the event of an emergency like flooding.
If your loved one uses any electricity-powered medical equipment like a CPAP machine, power outages can also pose added risks of losing the use of these devices.
Keeping Your Loved One Safe During Heat Waves
Chelsea is no stranger to intense heat. When the temperatures go up, it’s vital that you keep your loved one cooled, hydrated, and protected from the sun.
Ensure that your loved one is drinking enough water and that their home’s temperature is kept at 78 degrees or below.
If they must venture outside, provide them with protective clothing and sunblock to prevent any damage to their skin from intense UV rays.
Preparing for Cold Weather
Keep your senior loved one safe from hypothermia by keeping their home’s heating system working and making sure they wear warm, layered clothing when outside.
Melting snow and ice also pose a fall hazard, so it’s important to stay vigilant when providing your senior with mobility help.
Intense winter weather can also deprive homes of power, so make sure your senior loved one has an extra blanket, flashlights, batteries, and canned food in their house.
If they need power for medical devices, consider adding a portable generator to their home or taking them to stay at another family member’s house that still has power.
Preparing for Extreme Weather Emergencies
Sometimes, Chelsea experiences coastal flooding and heavy rain that can threaten the safety of residents and their homes.The best way to keep your senior safe in these situations is to prepare beforehand. Create an emergency kit that includes addresses and phone numbers of family members, local emergency contacts, and supplies like food, water, medicine, and waterproof clothing.
How Our Team at Visiting Angels Can Help
At Visiting Angels of Chelsea, we’re ready to help your loved one stay safe and prepared at home.
We can check in on your loved one during intense temperature shifts to ensure their home is comfortable and safe, keep track of their hydration, and help them get around outside if they need to leave the house.
Our caregivers are also here to help your loved one temporarily relocate to a family member's home before a weather disaster strikes.
Contact Our Team at Visiting Angels of Chelsea to Learn More!
Does your loved one need a helping hand in their daily life? Even in non-emergency situations, our team is ready to come to your loved one’s home and provide them with non-medical care services to make life simpler and less straining.
We can help your loved one with everything from cooking meals to brushing their teeth. If you would like to learn more, schedule a free in-home consultation with our team at Visiting Angels of Chelsea today by calling us at 617-409-9039 or by using our convenient online contact page.