For many Canadians, this is a very exciting time of year. Halloween will be here in a couple of weeks and the holiday season will begin almost immediately thereafter. Nevertheless, this spot on the calendar isn’t exactly beloved by everyone. Seniors often find cold days to be major burdens. This is because a big drop in temperature can often have a significant impact on their mobility.
Cold weather exacerbates joint pain and stiffness.
We all tend to feel a bit stiffer when it’s cold outside. However, for elderly individuals with arthritis, cold weather can make it pretty difficult to walk, climb steps or even get out of a chair. This is because drops in temperature cause the muscles and tissues around the joints to tighten up. Seniors are encouraged to dress warmly, use heating pads and stay active in order to minimize joint pain and stiffness on particularly cold days.
“While cold weather doesn’t cause arthritis, it can exacerbate aches and pains,” explains Amy Paturel for Cedars-Sinai, “According to the Arthritis Foundation, frigid temperatures can heighten pain sensitivity, slow blood circulation and cause muscle spasms. To make matters more complex, our joints can detect and respond to changes in barometric pressure (the amount of air pressure in the atmosphere).”
Ice and snow increases the risk of slips and falls.
It goes without saying that Canadian winters are known for their snowfalls. So, in addition to the cold weather, icy and wet surfaces present mobility concerns. Naturally, older adults are at increased risk of slipping on ice and snow-covered grounds. With balance and coordination declining with age, an older person is already at risk of slipping and falling more than normal. The biggest concerns, of course, are the broken bones and head trauma that can ensue from a fall.
Seniors should utilize assistive devices and wear proper footwear when venturing outside on frosty days. It’s also important to concentrate on “how’’ to walk. “Remember to keep your weight directly over your base of support (your feet),” advises Jaimie McVean of the Pedorthic Association of Canada, “Bend slightly forward from the waist. Seniors tend to walk bent too far forward and in doing so risk having their weight fall too far forward, risking a fall. Walk flat footed and take smaller steps. Consider using walking sticks or a cane with good ice picks on the ends.”
Chilly air can make it difficult to breathe.
Cold air is known to constrict our airways, making it difficult to breathe normally. Older adults who contend with respiratory issues like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can find chilly temperatures especially troublesome. Needless to say, if you can’t breathe, you can’t move. During particularly cold days, it’s wise to wear a scarf over the mouth and nose. It can help to warm the air before it enters the lungs.
Is the mobility of your elderly loved one being compromised by the cold?
It may be the right time to invest in a stair lift! A home stair lift is a motorized chair that slowly and safely glides up and down a set of stairs. It is affixed to a metal rail that is mounted to the stair treads. Stair lifts can be mounted on either straight or curved staircases. This makes it easy to access other levels of your home with any type of stair design.
To learn all about the stair lifts offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
