Senior Snippets

SENIOR SNIPPETS KEEP WARM THIS WINTER

By Christina Uppenkamp - Home Instead Senior Care

Welcome to the latest edition of Senior Snippets: the monthly advisory column with the older members of our community in mind, brought to you by Christina Uppenkamp, Director of Home Instead Senior Care Dartford. Here are some top tips to help you stay warm through the winter months.

Boiler check-up. It is recommended you have an annual boiler service to make sure it’s in tip top condition. The last thing you need in the middle of winter is a broken boiler, and a freezing cold house.

Draught excluders. It is important to make sure all windows and doors are in good condition. If you have old, cracked or broken frames you may want to seal the gaps or use draught excluders to stop the cold weather from creeping in!

Keep your pipes warm. Burst pipes are common during winter due to rapid freezing and thawing which could cause significant damage. The best way to prevent this from happening is to keep your pipes warm with their own foam cardigan (called lagging), which will reduce the heat lost and insulate the pipes to stop them from freezing. Several thin layers. Try wearing several thin layers of clothing, rather than one big jumper – the layers trap hot air keeping you warmer for longer. To keep heating bills down, consider wrapping up in a blanket or wearing more layers, rather than turning up the thermostat.

Keep your feet warm. There’s nothing worse than cold feet! To keep yourself warm this winter, wear thermal or thick socks and sensible shoes if you’re venturing out. Wear boots with a thick lining and consider buying specially designed shoes, in case the weather turns icy!

Hot water bottle. Consider using a hot water bottle throughout the day if you’re at home and during the night in bed. They are relatively inexpensive and very useful, quickly heating up your bed without using electricity or fuel.

Bleed radiators. Trapped air in your radiators can prevent hot water from circulating effectively, which could be the reason your home isn’t as warm as it has been previously. Bleeding your radiators releases the trapped air and allows your central heating to work once again, keeping you and your property warm.

Live Life Well.

For more information on joining the team or on the services provided, please call 01322 923750 or visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/ dartford.