Health Advice from Alfi - Autumn / Winter 2014 Autumn / Winter | Page 2

Winter is Coming - Be Prepared
As the evenings draw in and the temperatures drop,
it can mean only one thing - winter is on its way.
For the elderly or those living on their own, the winter
brings its own set of challenges. But with a little
preparation and planning, winter can be a lot warmer
and more comfortable. Here are Alfi's top five tips on
preparing for the winter season.

1. Wrap Up Warm

2. Heat the House

It sounds obvious but the number one way to
plan for the winter is to have a strategy for keeping
warm. There’s the age old problem of heating and
the rising cost of fuel bills, which we deal with in a
moment. But there are plenty of other ways people
can combat the cold.
The first thing to do is to wrap up warm. This
doesn’t mean people should sit in their houses in a
coat, hat and scarf but instead find the right clothes
to insulate the body from the cold. In fact, experts
believe that wearing several layers of thinner
clothing can be more effective than one thick layer,
as layers trap warm air.
It’s also important to choose the right kind of
clothing as the temperature drops. In preparation
for the winter people living on their own should
make sure they have plenty of clothing available,
especially thermal underwear, long johns, thick
socks, wooly jumpers and gloves.
Clothing is especially important when venturing
outside. People should make sure they have a very
warm coat handy and adequate footwear, especially
if the ground is icy or wet.

There’s no avoiding it. The heating needs to go
on when winter arrives. This is the time of year to reassess heating arrangements, make sure all heaters
are working and that there is an adequate supply of
fuel. Those using oil heating should check that their
fuel tank has plenty of oil.
One of the major issues for everyone at this time
of year is the huge cost of fuel bills. Luckily there are
a number of government schemes to help with fuel
costs for people who meet the criteria, including
Cold Weather Payments and Warm Home Discount.
For more information about these schemes,
residents should contact the Citizens Advice Bureau
or their local council.

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3. Eat Well
Eating well is important throughout the year,
but the right foods can also help people stay
warm during the winter. People should prepare by
stocking the cupboards with food so they are not
caught short and have to travel to the supermarket
when the weather turns cold and miserable.
Besides the normal advice for eating healthily,
such as eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, it
helps to have at least one hot meal each day. As

well as being physically warming, hot meals are
also comforting and can help people cope during
the cold months. Those who find it difficult to make
freshly-prepared hot meals could ask a friend or
relative to help out at meal times. Alternatively,
some residents may be eligible for home meal
deliveries. To find a list of organisations which
provide meals on wheels in Cornwall, visit the
RightCareIndex website at www.rightcareindex.com

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