Items to Add to Your Day Bag for the Colder Weather Season

As a family caregiver you know how important it is to have a day bag. This bag contains everything that you might need when you head out with your aging parent so that you can enjoy an active, engaged lifestyle with them while also knowing that you are prepared to handle any needs that might arise while you are out. While most of what you have in your bag will remain largely the same throughout the year, there can also be new challenges and issues that arise during the different seasons. Keeping these in mind when packing your day bag will ensure that you are as prepared as possible during your experience with your parent.

Some items that you may want to add to your parent’s day bag during the colder weather season include:

• Extra food. It is not all in your head that you tend to feel hungrier as the temperature drops. When the weather gets colder, your body needs more energy to stay warm and complete your daily tasks. Pack snacks that have higher calorie counts to give your elderly loved one and yourself exactly what you need to quiet those hunger pangs and keep you fueled through your day.
• Lip balm. Cold air tends to be very dry air, which means that every time your parent’s body is exposed to it, their skin loses moisture. This is particularly hard on their older skin, which is more vulnerable already. Especially vulnerable are their lips, which have the thinnest skin on the body. Lip balm provides protective moisture that can help to prevent cracking, bleeding, and vulnerability to infection.
• Dry socks. There may be some truth behind your parent telling you when you were younger that you should not get your feet wet because you will get sick. While wet feet won’t directly cause you to get sick, there is some evidence that wet feet and a colder body temperature in general can make it harder for your body to fight off illness and infection. Having dry socks with you means that if your parent steps into a puddle or otherwise gets their feet wet, they can replace their socks and stay warmer.

Starting elderly care for your aging parent is a fantastic way to help them stay healthier, safer, and more comfortable as they age in place during the cold weather season. This elderly home care services provider can be there with your parent to ensure that they are taking the proper steps to avoid the potential dangers of this season, and to encourage them to stay active and engaged even when the temperature drops. This care provider can evaluate your parent’s specific needs, challenges, and limitations and create a personalized approach to care and support tailored to addressing these needs in the way that is right for them while keeping in mind their personality, beliefs, and goals as well as the increased challenges of the winter season. When it comes to your aging parent staying active during the cold weather, you can feel confident that this care provider will make sure your parent has everything that they need to enjoy a more active life during this season while staying healthy, safe, comfortable, and protected.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in King of Prussia, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.