Healthy
winter
A guide to help make sure your older relatives
have a warm, healthy and stress free winter.
Looking after your
older relatives
We have put together this guide to help you look out for any signs
that all is not well so that you don’t need to panic when your GP
practice is closed.
We also know that if you haven’t seen someone for a while and they
become unwell or behave differently to the way they might have
done before it can be quite distressing.
Sometimes this could be an early
sign of an illness developing but it is
unlikely to be something that needs
immediate emergency care, it could
be worth waiting until you can
book an appointment at your loved
ones local GP.
Remind your loved
ones to take their
medication correctly
If you are looking after loved ones and you know that they have
regular medication, for example they may need an asthma inhaler or
medicines for their diabetes, it is important that you remind them to
take their medicines. It is also worth checking that people are taking
their medication as directed to on the label or patient information
leaflet that comes with the medicine they are taking.
Remember any unused medication should be returned to a pharmacy
as they can be a safety risk, and not taking prescribed medicines can
sometimes lead to further health issues. If you are worried speak to a
pharmacist or book an appointment for your loved one with their GP.
If you find out that your loved ones have run out of their medication
there are a number of pharmacies that are open out of hours. If you
run out of prescription medicines and you don’t have a prescription
with you, you may be able to get an emergency supply from a
pharmacy. It’s a good idea to take along your medicine’s packaging
with you, if you have kept it.
Dementia
watching out for early signs
The early symptoms of dementia are often mild and might get worse
only very gradually. If you are worried about the health of one of your
loved ones try not to panic just book an appointment for them with
their GP.
A GP will ask about symptoms and other aspects of their person’s
health and may give them a physical examination. The GP might also
organise some blood tests and ask about any medication they are
taking, as these can sometimes cause symptoms similar to dementia.
They will also be asked some questions or given some mental exercises
to measure any problems with memory or their ability to think clearly.
Here are some signs to look for:
• memory loss such as forgetting messages, routes or names and
asking questions repetitively
• difficulties with tasks and activities that require organisation and
planning
• becoming confused in unfamiliar environments
• difficulty finding the right words
• difficulty with numbers and/or
handling money in shops
• changes in personality and mood
• depression
Even if any of your family members are showing any of the above
signs it is important to remember the information below.
• A degree of forgetfulness is normal for everyone, perhaps if we are
busy, distracted or stressed, or as we get older. It is when increased
confusion or memory problems are having a significant impact on
daily lives that we should seek advice and help.
• Memory problems and confusion are not always signs of dementia
- they can be caused by other, treatable conditions such as vitamin
deficiency, underactive thyroid, or depression. They can even be
caused by hypothermia or malnutrition so it is important to speak to
a GP and get the right treatment.
• It can feel difficult for families and friends to connect and engage
with people with dementia and memory problems. However,
hitting upon the right activity or subject of conversation can
bring out the best in everyone, and people with dementia are no
different. Reminiscence is a natural part of family gatherings and
celebrations, and can help to reinforce our identity and feel positive
about ourselves. There are plenty of ideas in these leaflets from the
Alzheimer’s Society: Staying Involved and Active and Visits, Holidays
and Celebrations. Find out more and download these leaflets from:
www.alzheimers.org.uk
• For more local information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/dementia
or ring Leeds Alzheimer’s Society on 0113 231 1727.
Eating and
drinking well
Older people are at greater risk of dehydration and malnutrition so it is
really important that you help make sure that they eat well and drink
plenty of non-alcoholic drinks.
Good eating and drinking is really important for older people as it can
help reduce the risk of headaches, dizziness and confusion, urinary
infections, constipation, kidney stones and skin conditions such as
pressure ulcers.
Ideally your loved one should be drinking at least eight drinks
and eating at least three meals per day. Any fluid, except alcohol
counts including milk, water, tea, coffee and fruit juice and meals
should include some potatoes, rice, pasta and bread, some fruit and
vegetables, some meat, fish, eggs and beans or other non-dairy
sources and some milk and dairy products.
If you feel that the person
you are looking after is not
eating or drinking enough it
might be worth speaking to
their GP.
Stay warm
As we get older, it is harder for our bodies to detect how cold we are.
But by following these simple steps, you can help protect your loved
ones health this winter.
• Give them regular hot drinks.
• Encourage them to wear gloves and a hat, always wrap a scarf around
their neck and head when they go out and wear lots of thin layers of
clothes rather than one thick layer, as the layers trap warm air.
• Using a shawl or blanket will provide a lot of warmth, mention to
your loved ones that they could try to keep their feet up, as the air is
cooler at ground level.
• Encourage them to wear warm clothes in bed and if it is very cold,
wear thermal underwear, bed socks and even a hat - a lot of heat is
lost through your head.
• Using a hot-water bottle or an electric blanket to warm the bed will
help when the night time temperature drops but they should never
be used together as this can be dangerous.
• Help them choose winter boots with non-slip soles and a warm
lining, or wear thermal socks.
Produced by NHS Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Leeds South and East Clinical
Commissioning Group and NHS Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group - January 2014.