Baby, It’s Cold Outside! Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!

Topic: WHO Looking Out During Cold Weather for The Elderly?

I woke up this morning, and my hands and feet were really cold. Yes, it is in the thirties in Texas. Yes, we are freezing. Well, of course, my mind and heart went toward thinking about putting on warm socks and mittens. Hypothermia is a genuine concern for our elderly. As a nurse, I have seen first-hand how cold weather can impact our vulnerable populations. I have witnessed amputations due to frostbite. Did you know it can occur inside the home? For our elderly living in older homes, where insulation is not the best, the extreme cold can cause real problems, especially if the cold temperatures are prolonged. Since we know our elderly population is most susceptible, please check on family, friends, and neighbors who may fall into this category. Another concern is those helpful but dangerous space heaters. If you know of a family using the heaters, please check to ensure they are far away from flammable objects and far enough away from them so that skin burns do not happen.

Skin temperature has always been a primary concern with our elderly loved ones. The problem is magnified with chronic and health conditions that impact the perfusion of extremities. Conditions like peripheral vascular disease or Raynaud’s, a vasospastic condition that can cause feelings of numbness in response to cold weather, are serious. Keeping the elderly and others individuals with this condition warm can be hard. It is imperative to be alert. The cause of Raynaud’s disease is that smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin become narrow, limiting blood flow to affected areas(Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Cold temperatures can also impact older adults with autoimmune conditions. As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, I am asking you to check on the elderly in your circle and your neighborhood if possible. Take care! Be well!