Keeping older adults safe in cold weather: indoor hypothermia, checking on neighbors, and heating help¶

Cold weather is far more dangerous for older adults than most people realize, and much of the danger is indoors. An older person can develop hypothermia in a living room that feels merely chilly, because aging changes how the body senses cold, produces heat and holds on to it. Winter also brings falls on ice, heart strain, flu, carbon monoxide from poor heating, and the risk of being alone when something goes wrong.

This guide is for older adults, their families and their neighbors. It explains why cold is riskier with age, how to keep a home at a safe temperature, how to recognize indoor hypothermia, how to check on neighbors safely and kindly, and how to find help with heating costs in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries. It also covers medication, food, falls, carbon monoxide and power outages. See vanemate täiskasvanute hädaolukorra planeerimine for general planning.

Tehke seda kohe¶

1. Check the temperature in the room where the older person spends the day and in the bedroom. Aim for at least 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) in living areas, and warmer if the person feels cold, is frail or is unwell. Move them to a warmer room or place if they cannot get comfortable.
2. Look for warning signs: cold skin, shivering or no shivering at all, drowsiness, slurred speech, confusion, slow movement or a puffy, pale face. If you see them, call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom). See hädaabinumbrid.
3. Add layers, a hat, warm socks and blankets, and help the person to eat and drink something warm. Remove damp clothing and keep them out of drafts.
4. Check that a working carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm are in place, and that no grill, camp stove, generator or gas oven is being used for heat.
5. Kontrollige vanemaid või üksi naabreid telefoni teel või ukse taga ja leppige kokku igapäevane sisseregistreerimine külmaperioodide ajal. Jätke number, millele nad saavad helistada.
6. Kui elekter või küte katkeb, viige inimene varakult sooja sugulase koju, soojenduskeskusesse või varjupaika, mitte ei oodake, kuni maja on väga külm.

Miks on vanemad täiskasvanud suuremas ohus¶

Mitmed vanusega kaasnevad muutused muudavad külmaga toimetuleku raskemaks. Ükski neist pole viga ega ebaõnnestumine. Need on normaalsed ja mõned lihtsad sammud võivad nende eest kaitsta.

• Nõrgem külmatunne. Vanemad inimesed ei tunne sageli külma enne, kui kehatemperatuur on langenud. Nad võivad öelda, et nendega on kõik korras, kui nad seda ei tee.
• Vähem kehasoojust. Lihasmass ja ainevahetus langevad vanusega, mistõttu keha toodab vähem soojust. Õhem nahk ja vähem keharasva annavad vähem isolatsiooni.
• Aeglasem värisemine. Värisemine on keha peamine viis lühiajaliselt soojust tekitada ja vanematel täiskasvanutel võib see olla nõrgem või varakult lakata.
• Halvem vereringe. Ahenevad veresooned, südamehaigused, diabeet ja teatud ravimid vähendavad naha ja jäsemete verevoolu.
• Meditsiinilised seisundid. Südamehaigused, kopsuhaigused, kilpnäärmeprobleemid, diabeet, Parkinsoni tõbi, dementsus, insult ja artriit suurendavad riski. Haigused ja infektsioonid võivad muuta temperatuuri kontrolli.
• Ravimid. Mõned une-, ärevus-, depressiooni-, allergia-, kõrge vererõhu- ja vaimse tervise ravimid mõjutavad seda, kuidas keha tunnetab või talub temperatuuri, ning mõned põhjustavad pearinglust või segadust.
• Piiratud liikuvus ja eraldatus. Inimesed, kes ei saa kergesti liikuda, kes elavad üksi või käivad harva väljas, ei pruugi külma maja märgata ja nad ei pruugi saada abi.
• Muresid kuludega. Paljud vanemad täiskasvanud kütavad raha säästmiseks madalal tasemel ning mõned jätavad energia eest tasumiseks toidukorra või ravimi vahele. See on külmetusega seotud haiguste peamine põhjus.
• Alkohol. Jook võib tunduda soojendav, kuid kiirendab soojuskadu.

Külmaga seotud surmajuhtumite põhjuseks talvel on sageli südameatakk, insult ja kopsuinfektsioon, mitte ainult hüpotermia. Külm tõstab vererõhku ja muudab vere hüübimise tõenäolisemaks, mistõttu südame- ja vereringeprobleemid tõusevad külma ilmaga järsult. Riiklik tervishoiuteenistus (Ühendkuningriik), haiguste tõrje ja ennetamise keskused (Ameerika Ühendriigid) ja Health Canada hoiatavad kõik nende siseruumides esinevate ohtude eest.

Sisemine hüpotermia¶

Hüpotermia tähendab, et keha sisetemperatuur on langenud alla 35 kraadi Celsiuse järgi (95 kraadi Fahrenheiti järgi). See võib tekkida siseruumides jahedas kodus, eriti mitme päeva jooksul, ja see võib tekkida aeglaselt, nii et keegi ei märka. Inimene võib tunduda väsinud, vaikne või segaduses ning perekonnad võivad süüdistada vanust või haigusi.

Hoiatusmärgid¶

Because older adults may not shiver, absence of shivering does not mean they are fine. Look for other signs such as cold skin on the stomach or back, confusion, slow speech, unusual sleepiness or a strange change in behavior.

Mida teha¶

1. Call your local emergency number if you see signs beyond mild shivering, or if the person is confused, very sleepy, unresponsive or not shivering despite feeling cold.
2. Move the person to a warm room if you can do so gently. Do not allow them to walk if they are weak.
3. Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry layers. Wrap them in blankets, with a hat or cloth around the head and neck, and put insulation under them.
4. Give warm, sweet, non alcoholic drinks if they are awake and can swallow. Do not give food or drink to someone who is drowsy.
5. Place warm, not hot, water bottles wrapped in cloth against the chest, armpits and groin. Do not use a hot bath, heating pad on bare skin, or a hair dryer.
6. Handle gently and do not rub the arms or legs.
7. Stay with them and check breathing. If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR. See CPR.

For full care steps read hüpotermia ja külmakahjustus.

Safe temperatures at home¶

Health agencies give guidance on indoor temperatures. The World Health Organization and many national health services suggest that living rooms be kept at about 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher for healthy adults. Older people, those who are unwell, and those who are not very active may need it a little warmer, such as 20 to 21 degrees Celsius (68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit) in the room where they sit. Bedrooms are often advised at around 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) or slightly cooler for sleep with warm bedding.

These figures are general. Use a simple room thermometer in the living area and in the bedroom, and do not trust how the room feels. A thermometer with large numbers helps people with poor sight.

Keeping a home warm without risk¶

• Heat the rooms that are used most, and close doors to others. It is better to heat one room well than to heat the whole house poorly.
• Stop drafts with draft excluders, tape and curtains. Keep curtains closed at dusk and open them during the day to let in sun.
• Use a thermostat set steadily, rather than turning heating on and off. Constant moderate heat is often cheaper than short bursts, and safer.
• Dress warmly indoors: several thin layers, a cardigan, socks, slippers, and a hat if the house is cold. Wear a hat in bed if needed.
• Use blankets and a hot water bottle wrapped in a cover, or a modern electric blanket that is in good condition and is used according to the instructions. Do not use an electric blanket that is old, frayed or damaged, and do not use one if the person is incontinent or has dementia without medical advice.
• Sit with the legs raised and covered, and avoid sitting still for long periods. Stand up and move every hour.
• Eat regular hot meals and warm drinks. Food gives the body fuel for heat.
• Avoid alcohol, which causes heat loss and increases the risk of falls.

Checking on neighbors¶

Many older adults live alone, and some have no family nearby. A simple check by a neighbor can be the difference between a minor problem and a tragedy. Cold snaps, storms and power outages are the times when checks matter most.

How to check in kindly¶

1. Make a plan before the weather turns. Knock, introduce yourself, and offer your phone number. Ask whether they would like a daily call or visit during cold weather, and who else should be contacted in a crisis.
2. Agree on a signal. For example, a blind raised in the morning, a phone call at a set time, or a card in the window. If the signal is missing, someone checks.
3. Call first if you can. A call lets the person speak without feeling intruded on, and you can tell if their speech is slurred or they are confused.
4. Visit in person during emergencies. Knock, wait patiently, and speak clearly. Some people take time to get to the door.
5. Ask open questions. How warm is the house? Do you have heat and power? Have you eaten today? Do you have your medicines? Have you fallen?
6. Look for signs. Is the house cold, with the heating off? Is mail or snow piling up? Are curtains still closed in the afternoon? Is there a smell of gas or smoke?
7. Offer practical help. Offer to shop, clear snow, collect medicine, charge a phone or move them to a warmer place.
8. Respect independence. Offer rather than insist, and avoid talking down to the person. Many people are proud, and they are more likely to accept help from someone who treats them as an equal.

If no one answers¶

• Call the person on the phone and any known contacts, such as family, a caregiver or a friend.
• Look through the window and listen from the door for sounds of distress, calls for help, or a television running all day.
• Check for a key holder or a spare key if you have been given one, but do not enter a home that smells of gas or smoke, or where you suspect carbon monoxide.
• If you are worried, call your local emergency number and ask for a welfare check. Tell them what you know: the person's age, health, how long since contact, and any signs.
• Do not break in unless you see someone in obvious trouble and cannot wait. Give details to the dispatcher first.

Community networks¶

Some neighborhoods run block captain programs, volunteer check in schemes and registries of residents who need support. See neighborhood CERT mutual aid block captain plan and vulnerable neighbor registry. Ask local government, senior centers, faith communities, libraries, and charities about check in services, meals delivered to the door, and winter outreach teams. In the United Kingdom, Age UK and local councils run schemes. In the United States and Canada, local Area Agencies on Aging and Meals on Wheels programs often include wellness checks.

Heating assistance programs by country¶

Money worries are a major reason older adults keep homes too cold. Help exists, but programs and rules change often, so check the current details with the official source. A phone call to a local senior center, community organization, or social services office is a good start. Never wait until the heat is cut off to ask for help.

In the United States¶

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). A federal program that helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills, and in some places helps with emergency repairs and crisis situations. Apply through your state or local energy assistance office. Dialing 211 connects you to local services in many areas.
• Weatherization Assistance Program. Helps eligible households make homes more energy efficient through insulation, sealing and heating system repairs.
• Utility protections and payment plans. Many states restrict winter shutoffs for customers who are older or seriously ill, and many utilities offer budget billing, discounts and medical certificate programs. Call your utility before you fall behind and ask.
• Local help. Area Agencies on Aging, community action agencies, faith groups, the Salvation Army and similar charities often give emergency fuel or bill help.

In Canada¶

• Provinces and territories run their own programs, such as low income energy assistance, home energy efficiency grants, and winter heating benefits. Utility companies often run hardship funds. Check your provincial government website, your utility and local community services.
• Federal and provincial seniors benefits, tax credits and housing programs may offer support. Service Canada and your province can tell you which apply.
• Health Canada gives advice on cold weather safety and carbon monoxide.

Ühendkuningriigis¶

• Winter Fuel Payment ja Cold Weather Payment. Nende riiklike maksete abikõlblikkuse reeglid on viimastel aastatel muutunud, seega vaadake kehtivaid reegleid veebisaidilt GOV.UK.
• Sooja kodu allahindlus. Osalevate tarnijate kaudu soodustus abikõlblike leibkondade elektriarvetelt.
• Priority Services Register. Tasuta teenus teie energiatarnijalt ja võrguoperaatorilt, mis pakub elektrikatkestuse ajal täiendavat tuge vanematele, puudega või meditsiiniseadmetest sõltuvatele inimestele. Paluge oma tarnijal teid lisada.
• Energiatõhusus ja toetused. Kavad ja kohalike omavalitsuste programmid aitavad isolatsiooni ja kütte uuendamisel.
• Heategevusorganisatsioonid nagu Age UK, Citizens Advice ja kohalikud volikogud annavad tasuta nõu hüvitiste ja arvete ning mõnikord ka toetuste kohta.

Iirimaal, Austraalias, Uus-Meremaal ja mujal¶

• Iirimaa pakub sotsiaalkaitseministeeriumi kaudu kütusetoetust ja muud toetust ning Iirimaa säästva energia amet juhib energiauuenduskavasid.
• Austraalial on pensionäridele ja pensionäridele riiklikud energiakontsessioonid ja allahindlused. Kontrollige oma osariigi valitsust ja energiamüüjat.
• Uus-Meremaa pakub valitsusasutuste kaudu abikõlblikele inimestele talvist energiatoetust ja isolatsiooniprogramme.
• Euroopa Liidus on toetus riigiti erinev. Otsige riiklikke või kohalikke küttetoetusi, sotsiaaltariife ja kütteostuvõimetuse meetmeid. Abiks on teie kohalik omavalitsus, sotsiaalteenistus ja tarbija nõustamiskeskus.
• Teistes riikides võtke ühendust kohalike omavalitsuste, sotsiaalteenuste, usurühmade ja heategevusorganisatsioonidega. Isegi seal, kus ametlikku programmi pole, pakuvad kogukonnarühmad külmade ajal sageli tekke, kütust ja sööki.

Näpunäiteid abi saamiseks¶

1. Koguge kokku põhidokumendid: isikut tõendav dokument, sissetulekutõend, hiljutised energiaarved ja vanust või puuet tõendav dokument.
2. Paluge usaldusväärsel sugulasel, naabril või juhtumitöötajal vorme aidata.
3. Helistage oma energiatarnijale enne, kui jääte maksmata, ja küsige raskuste programmide kohta.
4. Taotlege hooaja alguses, kuna raha võib otsa saada.
5. Hoiduge pettuste eest. Ärge kunagi andke pangaandmeid helistajale või külastajale, kes ütleb, et nad on kütteabi süsteemist pärit, ja ärge makske riigitoetust ette. Kasutage ametlikke veebisaite ja telefoninumbreid.

Toit, ravimid ja tervis külma käes¶

Toit ja vedelikud¶

Vanemad täiskasvanud ei pruugi külma käes tunda janu ega nälga, kuid keha vajab siiski kütust ja vedelikku. Seadke eesmärgiks regulaarsed soojad toidud, supid ja soojad joogid ning tormi puhuks hoidke majas mitteriknevaid toiduaineid. Kui ostlemine on raske, kaaluge toidu kojutoomist. Kontrollige, kas külmik ja sügavkülmik töötavad ning vooluta toit on ohutu. Vaata riknenud toidu ja külmkapi elektrikatkestus.

Ravimid¶

• Kui väljakirjutaja lubab, hoidke talvel kodus vähemalt üks kuni kaks nädalat ravimeid ja pidage võetavate ravimite nimekirja. Küsige täitmist enne tormi.
• Teadke, millised ravimid vajavad jahutamist, näiteks insuliin, ja tehke plaan elektrikatkestusteks. Vaata temperatuuritundlikud ravimid elektrikatkestuse korral.
• Järgige selget ravirežiimi ja vältige topeltannuste võtmist või vahelejäämist. Vaata polüapteekide ja pillide korraldaja vead.
• Küsige apteekrilt või arstilt, kas mõni teie ravim muudab teid külma suhtes tundlikumaks või suurendab tõenäosust kukkuda.
• Talviste haiguste vähendamiseks hankige hooajalised vaktsiinid, nagu gripp ja teised, mida teie tervishoiuteenistus soovitab.

Meditsiiniseadmed¶

Kui keegi sõltub hapnikust, ventilaatorist, CPAP-masinast, elektritoitega voodist või dialüüsimasinast, rääkige sellest ette, hoidke varupatareid või -paake ning tehke plaan voolukatkestuse korral ohutusse kohta kolida. Vaata power outage for oxygen concentrators, ventilators and CPAP. Never smoke or use open flames near oxygen.

Falls, snow and ice¶

Falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults, and winter ice increases the risk. A broken hip or a head injury can change an older person's life, and people on blood thinners can bleed inside the head even after a mild knock. Stay inside on icy days when possible, arrange deliveries, and wear boots with good grip and a cane with an ice tip if needed. If a fall happens, read jääl libisemine: kuidas kukkuda ja millal hooldust otsida ja eakad kukuvad, kui nad ei suuda seista.

Ära lase südamehaige vanemal inimesel lund kühveldada. Vaata ohutult lund lükkamaning hankige abi teede ja astmete puhastamisel.

Dementsus ja ekslemine külmal ajal¶

Dementsusega inimesed võivad õhukeses riietuses õue rännata ja tunni jooksul eksida või alajahtuda. Paigaldage uksealarmid või kellahelid, hoidke alles hiljuti tehtud foto ja ID-käevõru ning öelge naabritele, kellele helistada, kui nad näevad inimest väljas. Kui keegi pakase ilmaga eksleb, helistage kohe kohalikule hädaabinumbrile, sest oht suureneb kiiresti. Vaata ekslemine vanem pakase või kuumalaine ilmaga ja dementsus hulkuv ja kadunud vanem.

Elektrikatkestused ja talvetormid¶

Talvine katkestus on vanematele täiskasvanutele suur oht. Plaan enne tormi.

• Rääkige läbi, mida teete, kui vool katkeb: kuhu minna, kellele helistada ja kuidas sinna jõuda.
• Hoidke akuraadio, taskulambid (taskulambid), varupatareid, telefoni akupank, soojad riided, tekid ja magamiskott.
• Hoidke ravimite, arstide ja hädaabi kontaktide nimekirja rahakotis ja külmkapis. Vaata hädaabi kontaktkaardi generaator.
• Ärge kasutage sees generaatorit ja pange koju patareitoitel vingugaasialarm. Vaata generaatori ohutus.
• Lahkuge varakult, kui maja külmetab. Ärge oodake, kuni see on ohtlik.
• Pärast tormi kontrolli enne normaalse soojuse taastamist hoolikalt torusid ja kütet. Vaata jäätorm, puude jäsemed ja soojuse ohutu taastamine ja talvised elektrikatkestused ja pikaajalised elektrikatkestused.

Otsustusvoog vanema naabri kontrollimiseks¶

flowchart TD
    A["Külm ilm või elektrikatkestus"] --> B["Helista vanemale naabrile"]
    B --> C{"Kas nad vastavad ja kõlavad selgelt?"}
    C -->|"Vastust pole"| D["Külastage, koputage<br/>ja helistage nende kontaktidele"]
    C -->|"Segaduses või segane"| E["Helistage hädaabinumbril<br/>ja minge nende juurde"]
    C -->|"Jah"| F{"Kas kodu on soe<br/>ja kas neil on süüa?"}
    D --> G{"Ikka pole vastust<br/>ja olete mures?"}
    G -->|"Jah"| H["Helistage hädaabinumbril<br/>ja küsige heaolukontrolli"]
    G -->|"Ei"| F
    F -->|"Ei"| I["Aidake neil sooja saada<br/>või korraldada soojust ja toitu"]
    F -->|"Jah"| J["Leppige kokku järgmises kontrollis<br/>ja jagage oma numbrit"]

Võrreldes võimalusi kodus soojas hoidmiseks¶

Checklist for a safe winter home¶

• Toatermomeeter elutoas ja magamistoas, seatud vähemalt 18 kraadi Celsiuse järgi (64 kraadi Fahrenheiti järgi).
• Working carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm, tested this month.
• Heating serviced this year, and chimney or flue checked if used.
• Draft proofing, curtains, blankets, hat and warm socks ready.
• At least a week of food, and medicines refilled.
• Phone charged, list of contacts and a power bank.
• A neighbor or relative who will check in daily during cold weather.
• Details of heating assistance and the utility's priority list.
• A plan for where to go if the heat or power fails.
• Grip boots, ice tip cane, and help with snow and ice clearing.

Supporting a family member from a distance¶

Many families live far from their older relatives. You cannot check a thermostat from another city, but you can set up a system that gives early warning. Start with a conversation before winter about what the person wants and what worries them, and agree on a few routines that feel respectful rather than controlling.

• Arrange a regular call at a fixed time each day in cold weather, and agree what you will do if it is missed.
• Ask a trusted neighbor, friend or local volunteer to be a second contact, and give them your number.
• Consider a smart thermostat or a simple temperature sensor that sends an alert to your phone if the home falls below a set temperature. Ask the person for permission first, and explain what is being monitored.
• Consider a personal alarm or fall detector that can call for help, and check that it is charged and worn.
• Arrange grocery and medicine delivery, and meal services, so that the person does not have to go out on ice.
• Pay or help with energy bills if you can, and help to apply for assistance. Many older adults are reluctant to ask.
• Visit before the cold arrives to check alarms, draft proofing, heating, ice grips for boots and the stock of food and medicine.
• Keep contact details for the person's doctor, pharmacy and neighbors with you, and learn who holds a spare key.

If you cannot reach the person and are worried, call a neighbor first, then call your local emergency number and ask for a welfare check. Give the dispatcher the address, the person's age, any health conditions and the time of the last contact.

Korduma kippuvad küsimused¶

What temperature should an older adult keep their home?¶

Many health services advise at least 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) in the rooms where people spend time, and a little warmer, around 20 to 21 degrees Celsius (68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit), for people who are frail, unwell or not very active. Use a room thermometer rather than relying on how the room feels. Move the person to a warmer place if the home cannot be kept warm.

What are the signs of hypothermia in an older person?¶

Look for cold skin, tiredness, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, a puffy pale face, slow movement and slow breathing, and note that shivering may be weak or absent. Call your local emergency number if the person is confused, very drowsy or unresponsive. Warm them gently with dry layers and blankets while you wait.

How can I help an older neighbor without being intrusive?¶

Introduce yourself before bad weather, share your number, and offer a regular phone call or a signal such as a blind raised in the morning. Offer help with shopping, snow and warm meals, and let the person decide what they want. If you cannot reach them and you are worried, call your local emergency number and ask for a welfare check.

Where can I find help paying for heating?¶

Start with your energy supplier and your local senior center or social services office, which can point you to current programs. Examples include LIHEAP and weatherization in the United States, provincial energy programs in Canada, and Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payment and the Priority Services Register in the United Kingdom. Check the official government website for current rules, and do not give bank details to anyone who calls or visits unasked.

Allikad kontrollitud¶

This guide was checked against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) pages on cold weather and older adults, the National Institute on Aging (United States) cold weather safety advice, Ready.gov and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (United States) winter storm guidance, the Administration for Children and Families guidance on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the National Weather Service (United States) wind chill pages, the American Red Cross winter safety advice, the National Health Service (United Kingdom) pages on keeping warm and hypothermia, the UK Health Security Agency cold weather guidance, GOV.UK pages on winter payments and the Warm Home Discount, Age UK winter advice, the Met Office (United Kingdom) winter pages, Health Canada pages on extreme cold and older adults, and the World Health Organization housing and health guidance. Program rules change, so verify them with the official source.

Õppige esmaabi¶

Praktiline esmaabikursus õpetab tundma hüpotermiat, reageerima kukkumistele ja sooritama enesekindlalt CPR-i. Punane Rist, St Johni kiirabi ja kohalikud teenuseosutajad pakuvad kursusi, mis sobivad vanematele täiskasvanutele ja omastehooldajatele. Võtke see koos inimestega, kes jagavad teie kodu või elavad läheduses.

Seotud juhendid¶

• Vanemate täiskasvanute hädaolukorra planeerimine
• Hüpotermia ja külmakahjustus
• Power outage for oxygen concentrators, ventilators and CPAP
• Eakate kukkumine taastub, kui ta ei suuda seista
• Winter storm safety: home heating and cold survival