When winter arrives, what steps do your parents need to take to make sure they’re prepared? It’s best to have a plan in place for storms, emergencies, and power outages. If you and their home care assistance providers haven’t talked about their care needs as winter arrives, it’s time.
Make Sure They Have a Fire Escape Plan Memorized
What is their plan if your parents’ fire, smoke, or carbon monoxide detectors go off? Will they go to a neighbor’s house, or are they too far from anyone to rely on that? They need a meeting place where they can gather and call emergency services.
They also need to have different escape routes in mind. If your parents are in bed in an upstairs bedroom, they may not be able to get downstairs to the front door. Do they have a ladder to drop from a bedroom window? Is the garage roof accessible to slide down?
Get the Heating System Cleaned and Inspected
By now, your parents’ heating system should have been cleaned. If it hasn’t, schedule a cleaning as soon as possible. Have it cleaned and inspected to make sure it’s working well.
That doesn’t guarantee that it will not have issues during the winter. Make sure your parents have a backup heat source if they wake up and find there’s no heat. A plug-in space heater with safety features that turn it off if it tips over is a good option.
At the same time the heating system is being cleaned, see if you can have the dryer vent and dryer vent pipe cleaned by the same company. Dryer lint poses a fire hazard if it builds up.
Check the Home for Drafts
Lower their heating bills by checking your parents’ home for drafts. If there are drafty areas around a door or window, seal them with weatherproofing strips or insulating foam. You might need to call in a professional for an assessment.
If your parents have drafty windows, look into the insulating plastic film that attaches over the window. Once it’s in place, use a hairdryer to finish the seal.
Hire Home Care Assistance Services
Make sure someone stops in and checks on your parents throughout the winter. They need help with shoveling and snow removal after a storm. They should have someone spreading sand or de-icer to prevent slips and falls when getting the mail or taking a walk.
Talk to a home care agency about home care assistance. Your parents don’t need to have caregivers available for more than regular check-ins. Plus, feel free to add other home care assistance services like housekeeping, meals, and laundry if that suits your parents’ needs.
If you or a loved one are considering Home Care Assistance Services in Plum Boro PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.
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