Winter is upon us. This means staying inside by the fireplace to keep warm while waiting for the sun to come out and warm us all up again. Winter can and will bring lots of snow with it. Snow is inevitable in some parts of the country, just another part of the season. The fluffy white stuff can end up causing problems for seniors. Here are some important things to consider when thinking about winter safety.

Lost Access to Needed Services

When snow hits everything can grind to a halt. As local governments struggle to keep roads clean it means that access to needed facilities can be hampered for seniors. This includes things like hospitals, doctors, physical therapy and even grocery stores. Essential items like medications can be hopelessly far away, trapped in a pharmacy that just cannot be reached in the storm. This can make snow a very serious and dangerous problem for many seniors.

Snow at Home

Not only is access to needed services an issue, just getting around can be difficult. Normally accessible stair cases can become very dangerous and icy. A trip to the mailbox can become nearly impossible. With snow usually comes falling temperatures as well. This can cause problems at home such as frozen or burst water lines. Finally a broken furnace can spell serious trouble for a senior if a repairman is not able to get to their home due to weather.

Prepare for Snow

If news of extremely cold weather or snow is on the horizon it is best to be prepared. Don’t wait to get those prescription refills. Make sure there is enough food and water in the house to last a few days. Finally make sure that a space heater is available if something happens to the central heating.

For elder law issues or advice, contact Stano Law group.