Preparing Your Parent’s Home for Snow
Home Care in Scarsdale NY
The fall weather might still be beautiful and mild in many areas, but in the coming weeks the winter will come on in full force, which possibly means snow. While a wintry storm can be lovely, it 
can also be dangerous and it is important that your parent’s home is properly prepared so that they can stay as safe, comfortable, and healthy as possible even when the temperature drops and the white stuff begins to fall.
Use these tips to help prepare your parent’s home for snow:
- Check the foundation. Even small signs of damage can become serious after snow. Check your parent’s foundation to note any cracks or other weak areas so that you can take steps to reinforce them before the first major snowfall. Further protect the foundation by removing any snow from it before it melts.
- Check weatherproofing. Drafts in the home are not only uncomfortable, but they can be a strain on your parent’s resources and put the home itself at risk. When a window or door is not properly weatherproofed it can let cold air in and warm air out. This can cause your parent to crank up the thermostat, increasing their heating bill. It can also introduce moisture into the home that can increase the risk of mold and mildew growth.
- Pack an emergency kit. When there is risk of snow, there is risk of power outages. Prepare your parent and help to reduce the chances that they will suffer serious consequences by packing an emergency kit. This should contain food and water for several days, blankets, flashlights, a battery operated radio, toiletries, a first aid kit, and emergency warming pouches like those used for camping. This will help to keep your parent safer and more comfortable if the snow causes the power to go out for a day or more.
- Review heating safety. When the weather outside gets extremely cold, it is easy to be tempted to use any means possible to warm up the space. Some methods, however, can be very dangerous. Review these safety concerns with your parent, reminding them that they should never use the oven to warm the house, should not use a woodstove or fireplace that has not been professionally inspected for the season, should never leave a candle burning, and should never use equipment meant for outdoor use, including generators, indoors.
Starting senior care for your aging parent can be an exceptional way to keep them safer, healthier, and happier throughout their later years, including during challenging times such as harsh weather. A senior home care services provider can be with your aging parent to provide them with a highly personalized set of services tailored to their individual needs as well as their thoughts, opinions, beliefs, lifestyle, and goals. This means that they can enjoy a more active, engaged, and independent lifestyle as they age in place and you can still have confidence that no matter what challenges they are facing they have support, assistance, and encouragement to see them through. When it comes to helping preparing your parent and their home for snow, this care provider can evaluate the home to detect potential issues and bring them to your attention so that you can resolve them. They can also help to make sure that your parent has the supplies that they need and understand cold weather safety issues that can keep them from making dangerous decisions during periods of potentially dangerous weather.
If you or an aging loved one are looking for home care in Scarsdale, NY, call the friendly staff at The Perfect Home Care at (855) 855-5728. Call today!
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