Essential Tips for Seniors to Stay Safe and Well at Home This Autumn and Winter

Do you know the best ways to keep yourself or a loved one safe and well during the colder months? Let’s dive into how you can prepare for a warm and secure winter season at home.

With shorter days, colder temperatures, and increased rain, autumn and winter present unique challenges for seniors. These months can make everyday activities harder and increase the risks of isolation, illness, or accidents in the home. At Home Instead New Forest, we’re here to support our local seniors through the winter season with compassionate, personalised care designed to ensure their comfort, safety, and well-being.

Our care professionals understand the specific needs that come with winter and are equipped to provide support and companionship to make these colder months enjoyable. Here are some essential tips for keeping seniors safe and well in New Forest this season.

Maintaining a warm home environment is essential, as seniors are often more vulnerable to the cold due to health conditions, medications, or limited mobility. Here are some key tips to ensure warmth and comfort:

1. Optimise Home Heating

• Adjust the thermostat: Setting the thermostat to a comfortable level between 18°C and 21°C can help keep the house warm. Our care professionals can help monitor temperatures throughout the day.
• Energy Efficiency Checks: Insulate windows and doors to prevent heat from escaping. Draught-proofing can make a big difference in keeping heating bills down while ensuring warmth.
• Warm Bedding and blankets: Keep extra blankets and thermal bedding on hand. Our team can assist in setting up warm and cosy bedding arrangements to ensure comfort during chilly nights.

2. Dressing for Warmth

• Layering Up: Layered clothing can trap body heat more effectively than single heavy layers. For example, wearing a thermal shirt, a warm jumper, and a cosy cardigan can be more effective at keeping warm.
• Warm Accessories: Wearing thermal socks, gloves, and scarves around the house can make a big difference. Seniors can also benefit from comfortable slippers with non-slip soles for safety on cold floors.

Encourage Frequent Movement: Even gentle activity like walking around the house can help improve circulation and keep seniors feeling warmer. Our care professionals can encourage light movement throughout the day to help seniors stay active and comfortable.

Proper nutrition and hydration are especially important in winter to help boost immunity and energy. Cold weather can sometimes decrease thirst, but staying hydrated is essential for overall health.

1. Stock Up on Nutrient-Rich Foods

• Protein-Packed Essentials:Keep a supply of protein-rich items such as tinned chicken, fish (like tuna or salmon), and beans on hand. These can easily be added to soups and casseroles for a nutritious meal.
• Whole Grains: Stock wholegrain cereals, brown rice, and pasta to provide sustained energy throughout the day.
• Calcium-Rich Dairy and Alternatives: Milk, cheese, and yoghurt are excellent sources of calcium, supporting bone health. For those avoiding dairy, fortified plant-based milks are good alternatives.
• Fruits and vegetables: While fresh produce is ideal, frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables can last longer and provide essential vitamins. Options like tinned peas, carrots, and frozen berries are both nutritious and convenient.

2. Plan for Regular Meals

• Meal Planning and Preparation: Our Care Professionals can help seniors prepare meals, ensuring they have nutritious food throughout the day. Simple, warm meals like soups and stews are comforting and easy to digest.
• Hydration Reminders: In winter, seniors may not feel as thirsty. Herbal teas, hot chocolate, and warm soups provide hydration while helping to stay warm.

Staying mentally active and socially engaged is just as important as physical safety, particularly during the darker months. Isolation can sometimes increase in winter, making social connections and stimulating activities essential for emotional well-being.

In-Home Companionship and Activities

• Regular Social Visits: Our Care Professionals offer companionship, giving seniors someone to talk to and engage with regularly. Simple interactions, like a friendly conversation over tea, can provide a sense of connection.
• Enjoyable Hobbies: Reading, crafts, puzzles, or even a short walk in the garden can be stimulating activities. Our team can organise and participate in these activities, helping to keep minds active and spirits high.

Engaging in the Local Community

Local Activities and Events:

In the New Forest area, several community centres and events offer engaging activities for seniors, promoting social interaction and mental stimulation.

One such initiative is the Brockenhurst and Sway Day Centre – The Friday Club, which meets every Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Village Hall in Brockenhurst. This club provides a day of social interaction, games, quizzes, gentle exercises, and a home-cooked lunch. Twice a month, visiting speakers present on various topics of interest, and occasional off-site visits, such as afternoon tea at local garden centres and an annual boat trip on Southampton Water, are organized. Minibus transport is available for members who require it.

New Forest National Park Authority

Contact Information:

• Phone: 01590 622292
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: The Village Hall, Highwood Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7RY

Another valuable resource is the New Forest Community Link, which offers a range of daytime opportunities for adults with complex needs. Based in a fully accessible, newly refurbished building next to the public library in New Milton, the centre operates Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Activities include interactive storytelling, sensory sessions, art, crafts, and music, with a primary focus on supporting individuals to access local community facilities, promoting choice and independence.

Hampshire County Council

Contact Information:

• Phone: 01425 617321
• Registered Manager: Nicki Ward
• Address: 16-18 Old Milton Road, New Milton, BH25 6DX

These centres play a crucial role in enhancing the well-being of seniors and adults with complex needs by providing structured activities and fostering community engagement.

Virtual Social Connections: 

For seniors unable to attend local events, virtual activities, like video calls with family or online games, can be wonderful substitutes. Our team can assist with setting up virtual platforms and encouraging regular use.

“Home Instead New Forest has been a lifeline for my mother,” says Mr. Thompson, a New Forest resident. “Their care professionals have provided such thoughtful, considerate support—especially through the colder months. Knowing they’re there has made a world of difference.”

Another client, Mrs. Ellis, shares, “The companionship and care I receive is wonderful. The care professionals are so warm-hearted and genuinely interested in spending time with me.”