With low temperatures in winter, older people are less resistant to cold due to the decline in their physical functions, which can easily lead to colds, joint pains and other diseases. Therefore, it is important to do a good job of keeping the elderly warm in winter to prevent diseases and protect their health.

Dress warmly

Priority is given to cotton thermal underwear, which has good breathability and moisture absorption, allowing the skin to stay dry and comfortable, and at the same time can play a certain role in keeping warm. Avoid thermal underwear made of chemical fiber, as it may cause itchy skin and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Wool sweaters are a classic choice for winter warmth. Wool has natural warming properties and is soft and cozy. You can choose a thick wool sweater to wear as a middle layer to lock in body heat without being too heavy.

In addition, cashmere sweaters are also a good choice, which are softer and more delicate than wool and have better warmth, but are relatively expensive.

Down jackets and cotton jackets are the main choices for winter coats for the elderly. Down jackets are lightweight and warm, and their filler, down, has a good fluffiness that can form an air layer to block the intrusion of cold air.

When choosing a down jacket, pay attention to the filler down content and filling capacity, generally speaking, down content in 90% or more, filling capacity according to the local cold degree of choice, the colder the region should be higher filling capacity.

Cotton clothing is relatively heavy, but the price is more affordable, the warmth effect is also good. You can choose the right jacket according to your personal preference and the actual situation.

Elderly people's clothing should be loose and comfortable, avoid wearing too tight clothes. Tight clothing will bind the body's activities, affecting blood circulation, and is not conducive to warmth. Loose-fitting clothing allows the body enough room to move around and also creates a layer of air within the clothing to increase warmth.

Choose long jackets and pants to better protect all parts of your body from the cold. Longer jackets cover the waist, hips and thighs to minimize heat loss. Longer pants will protect your legs from direct cold winds, especially important for older adults with knee problems.

Pay attention to the collar, cuffs and hemline of clothing. The best choice for collars is to have a high or adjustable collar to protect the neck from the cold wind. Cuffs should be elastic or adjustable to prevent cold wind from entering through the cuffs.

The hemline should have a drawstring or a string that can be fastened to enhance the warmth-keeping effect.

Measures to keep warm in the living environment

In winter, an indoor temperature of 20-24 degrees Celsius is appropriate. Heating devices such as heaters and air conditioners can be installed at home to ensure a comfortable indoor temperature.

It should be noted that heating equipment should be checked regularly to avoid fire and other safety accidents. Elderly people's winter room layout should be sunny and sheltered from the wind as the principle. Try to arrange the bedroom and living room in a sunny location, and make full use of natural light during the day.

At the same time, avoid living room is located in the wind, to reduce the cold wind attack.

The indoor air is usually dry in winter, which will adversely affect the respiratory tract and skin of the elderly. Therefore, it is important to regulate indoor humidity. Humidifiers are commonly used to increase indoor humidity.

You can choose a humidifier with the right capacity according to the indoor area, and place the humidifier closer to the human body, but pay attention to cleaning the humidifier regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Placing a water basin or wet cloth indoors can also play a role in increasing humidity to some extent. You can place a wet towel on the heater or a water basin in the corner of the room to allow water to evaporate naturally and increase indoor humidity.

Some green plants such as green roses, hanging orchids, etc. have a certain role in regulating air humidity, but also can beautify the indoor environment. You can keep some green plants indoors to improve indoor air quality and humidity.

Choose warm bedding for the elderly, such as woolen quilts and down quilts. In addition, you can lay blankets on the sofa and use warm cushions to improve the comfort of living.

In winter, the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, and the living room of the elderly should be reasonably ventilated. Open the windows regularly every day to keep the indoor air fresh. When ventilating, pay attention to avoid cold wind blowing directly to avoid catching a cold.

In winter, make sure that doors and windows are well sealed to prevent cold air from intruding into the room through gaps. You can check whether the seals of doors and windows are intact, and replace them in time if they are damaged or aged.

Windproof film can be put on the windows to enhance their insulation performance. In addition, door seals can be installed at the bottom of the door to reduce air circulation at the doorway.

Elderly people's diet in winter to keep warm strategy

In winter, when the temperature is low, the elderly should increase their calorie intake appropriately to improve their body's ability to resist the cold. They can eat more high-calorie foods such as lean meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Winter elderly should eat more food rich in vitamins and minerals to improve immunity.

Such as fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and so on. Winter is dry, the elderly should moderate intake of water to keep the skin moist. It is recommended to drink 2,000-2,500 milliliters of water per day, and plain water is preferred.

Older people in winter should eat less cold food, such as cold drinks, cold dishes. Eat more warm foods, such as stews and hot pots, to help drive away the cold and keep warm.

Other precautions to keep warm

Although it is cold in winter, older people should not completely stop exercising. Moderate exercise can promote blood circulation and enhance the body's resistance and ability to fight the cold. Elderly people can choose to do some simple exercises indoors, such as tai chi, yoga, aerobics, etc.

They can also go outdoors to do activities such as walking and sunbathing when the weather is better. However, they should pay attention to the intensity and time of exercise to avoid over-exercise leading to physical fatigue or injury.

Winter is the season of high incidence of colds and influenza, and the elderly are more susceptible to infection due to their weaker immunity. Therefore, the elderly should pay attention to keeping warm and avoid going to crowded places; if they must go, they should wear masks.

At the same time, they can get the flu vaccine to prevent the flu. Cold weather can constrict blood vessels, leading to higher blood pressure and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

 Elderly people should pay attention to monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar and other indicators, take medication on time, and seek medical attention if they have any uncomfortable symptoms.

The cold and moist environment in winter can easily induce joint diseases. Older people should pay attention to the warmth of joints, avoid standing or walking for a long time, and carry out joint activities and exercises appropriately.

If they suffer from joint diseases, they should receive timely treatment and follow the doctor's instructions for rehabilitation training.

Winter is both a challenge and an opportunity for seniors. Through scientific dressing, comfortable living environment, reasonable diet, moderate exercise and positive mindset, the elderly can stay warm and healthy in the cold winter.

Families and society should also give more care and support to the elderly to make their winter life warmer and better. I hope this full strategy can help the elderly to have a warm winter!