15 Cold Weather Safety Tips Every Senior Should Know
Cold weather can create problems both inside and outside the home. A few simple preparations can help seniors stay warmer, reduce the chance of slips and falls, prepare for outages, and recognize when being too cold is becoming dangerous.
Cold Weather Deserves a Little More Attention for Older Adults
Cold weather does not have to be extreme to cause trouble. Older adults can be more vulnerable to cold exposure, and sometimes a person may not realize how chilled they have become until the situation is already serious.
Winter also brings everyday hazards that have nothing to do with body temperature: icy steps, slippery sidewalks, wet entryways, shorter daylight hours, power outages, and the temptation to use supplemental heaters improperly.
The good news is that many cold-weather problems can be reduced with ordinary preparation. You do not need to turn your home into an emergency bunker. You simply want the important things handled before you actually need them.
One number worth remembering: 95°F
Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature falls below 95°F. It is a medical emergency. If someone is showing signs of hypothermia, call 911.
15 Cold Weather Safety Tips for Seniors
These tips cover the home, outdoor walking, clothing, emergency preparation, and a few things that are easy to overlook until temperatures drop.
Keep the Home Warm Enough
A house does not have to feel freezing to become too cold for an older person. The National Institute on Aging recommends setting home heat to at least 68°F.
If one room always feels colder than the rest of the house, check for drafts, poorly sealed windows, blocked heating vents, or other reasons the room is losing heat.
Dress Warmly Even When Staying Indoors
Cold-weather clothing is not only for going outside. Socks, slippers, comfortable layers, a sweater, or a throw blanket can make a cooler room much more comfortable without constantly adjusting the thermostat.
Loose layers can also trap warm air better than relying on one heavy piece of clothing.
Stop Cold Drafts Before They Become a Daily Nuisance
Check doors and windows for noticeable cold air. Weather stripping, caulk, insulated curtains, or even a draft stopper at the bottom of a door can help reduce cold spots.
During sunny winter days, opening curtains can allow sunlight into the room. Close them again when that window begins losing heat later in the day.
Use Portable Heaters Carefully
A portable heater can make a frequently used room more comfortable, but placement and electrical safety matter.
Keep the heater away from bedding, curtains, furniture, clothing, paper, and anything else that can burn. Follow the manufacturer's clearance instructions and plug the heater directly into an appropriate wall outlet rather than an ordinary extension cord or power strip.
Keep Outdoor Walkways Clear of Snow and Ice
A small icy patch near the front step can be more dangerous than a large snowbank. Keep steps, porches, sidewalks, and the route to the mailbox as clear and dry as possible.
Ice melt or sand can improve footing when surfaces remain slippery. If conditions are bad, postponing an unnecessary trip outside may be the safer choice.
Wear Shoes With Good Traction
Winter footwear should do more than keep feet warm. Nonskid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes or boots can provide better footing on wet or icy surfaces.
Be especially careful when coming back indoors. Snow and moisture tracked onto tile or hardwood can create a slippery surface just inside the door.
Use Railings on Steps and Icy Walkways
A railing that seems unnecessary during summer can become extremely useful when frost, snow, or ice covers a step.
Do not rush. Keep one hand available for the railing rather than carrying several bags at once.
Check the Forecast Before Going Out
Temperature is only part of the story. Wind, rain, snow, and ice can make conditions much more uncomfortable or hazardous than the number on the thermometer suggests.
If the weather is especially cold, windy, wet, or icy, consider rescheduling a nonessential outing.
Tell Someone When You Are Going Out in Severe Cold
If you need to spend time outdoors during very cold weather, let a family member, friend, or neighbor know where you are going and approximately when you expect to return.
Carry a fully charged phone whenever possible. It is a simple precaution that can matter if you fall, the car will not start, or weather conditions change unexpectedly.
Change Out of Wet Clothing Quickly
Cold rain, melting snow, or perspiration can leave clothing damp. Wet clothing draws heat away from the body and can make someone become chilled much faster.
Once indoors, remove wet coats, socks, gloves, or other clothing and change into dry layers.
Keep Flashlights Where You Can Reach Them
Do not keep the household's only flashlight buried in a drawer at the other end of the house. A winter outage can turn familiar hallways, stairs, and bathrooms into fall hazards.
Keep a working flashlight near the bed and another in a main living area. Check batteries or rechargeable lights before storm season.
Prepare for the Possibility of Losing Heat
A winter power outage becomes more serious when it also shuts down the home's heating system. Know in advance where you could go if the house becomes too cold.
This might mean staying with family, a nearby friend, or another safe heated location until power and heat are restored.
Keep Food, Water, and Everyday Necessities Available
You do not need months of supplies. Having enough basic food, drinking water, household necessities, and other frequently used items can reduce the need to venture out when roads and sidewalks are unsafe.
Check supplies before a major storm is forecast rather than waiting until shelves are crowded and the weather is deteriorating.
Be Careful About Shoveling Snow
Snow shoveling combines cold temperatures with strenuous physical effort. The National Institute on Aging specifically advises older adults to avoid shoveling themselves when possible because of both fall and heart-attack risk.
When practical, arrange for a family member, neighbor, snow-removal service, or someone else to handle heavy clearing.
Know the Warning Signs of Hypothermia
This may be the most important item on the list. Hypothermia can affect thinking, which means a person may not recognize that something is seriously wrong.
Warning signs can include shivering, confusion, unusual sleepiness, slowed or slurred speech, fumbling hands, pale skin, and poor coordination.
If you suspect hypothermia, treat it as an emergency and call 911.
Hypothermia Can Happen Indoors Too
Hypothermia is often associated with being stranded outdoors in bitter cold, but that is not the only situation in which it can happen.
Older adults can become dangerously chilled in a home that is too cold, and hypothermia can occur at temperatures above 40°F when someone becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or cold water.
- Shivering
- Cold hands and feet
- Confusion
- Unusual tiredness
- Slurred speech
- Fumbling hands
- Slow breathing
- Slow heartbeat
- Stiff or jerky movement
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of consciousness
Do not wait for every symptom
Hypothermia is a medical emergency. If you believe someone may have hypothermia, call 911 and move the person to a warmer place if you can do so safely.
Cold-Weather Home Safety Checklist
Before the next stretch of cold weather, walk through the home and make sure these basics are covered.
- ✓ Home heating is working properly.
- ✓ Frequently used rooms stay at a comfortable temperature.
- ✓ Doors and windows do not have major drafts.
- ✓ Warm socks, slippers, sweaters, and blankets are easy to reach.
- ✓ Flashlights work and are stored in more than one room.
- ✓ Phones and backup power banks are charged.
- ✓ Outdoor steps and walkways can be treated for ice.
- ✓ Winter footwear has good traction.
- ✓ Basic food, water, and household necessities are available.
- ✓ There is a plan for where to go if the home loses heat.
Preparing the Home for Colder Weather
If you are working through cold-weather preparation now, these two guides go deeper into warmth and useful household items.
Cold Weather Safety for Seniors: FAQ
Sources and Further Reading
Safety guidance in this article was reviewed against information from:
- National Institute on Aging — Cold Weather Safety for Older Adults
- National Institute on Aging — Exercising Outdoors: Safety Tips for Older Adults
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Preventing Hypothermia
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Portable heater safety guidance
Prepare on the Ordinary Day
Cold-weather preparation is easiest when there is no storm outside. Check the heat, find the flashlights, charge the phone, put the warm clothes somewhere convenient, and deal with that icy step before it becomes an emergency.
Most winter safety comes down to simple things done early.