Check On The Elderly When It’s Cold

Newswise — When it's cold, it is important to check on the elderly because aging issues like mental acuity and mobility problems could affect how older people adapt to a colder environment, according to Andrew Duxbury, M.D., a UAB geriatrician. "Because of slowed mental processes, they may not realize how cold it is, or forget to adjust the thermostats, or perhaps they are not mobile enough to get up and adjust it." Be sure your senior is dressed in layers like wool, not linen. "And make sure they wear a hat. Women don't like to wear hats because they spend so much time at the beauty parlor, but you actually lose a significant amount of body heat through your head."