Check on Elderly Neighbours This Winter

Visit an elderly relative this winter, just ten minutes of your time could prove to be a lifesaver.

That’s one important piece of advice to LHP residents as we move into a period which, a year ago, saw some of the harshest winter weather in recent history.

The 2018 Beast from the East drove snow, ice and freezing temperatures across Lincolnshire during January and February. With road and school closures, it caused havoc with the elderly and most vulnerable struggling to leave their homes – especially in the more rural areas.

Spending just a few minutes every day checking on elderly neighbours is vital – and when you do, use the following checklist to make sure they are staying safe:

• Are they warm enough, especially at night?
• Do they have food and medicine, so they don’t have to go out during very cold weather?
• Offer to check the smoke alarm, and if your neighbour smokes, remind them not to do so in bed or when they are tired;
• Remind them never to leave cooking unattended and that the cooker is switched off when they leave the house or go to bed;
• If they have an open fire, make sure they have a guard, or if they use a portable heater, remind them not to sit too close.

Meanwhile general advice for all households includes:

• Keep warm, heat your home to at least 18 degrees Celsius (65 degrees F);
• Wear several thin layers rather than one thick layer;
• Draw curtains as soon as it gets dark to stop the heat escaping;
• Make sure you have regular hot meals that contain carbs, such as potatoes, pasta, bread and rice;
• If you’re sitting down, a shawl or blanket will provide extra warmth.

More help and advice tips can be found on the support and advice section of this website and remember, for health matters when your GP surgery or pharmacy is closed, call NHS 111 or visit www.nhs.uk