Some elderly people don't see family members regularly
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As Britain is expected to experience further cold and blustery weather, residence are encouraged to look after their neighbours
Recent research, carried out by House of Bath, found that over a third of Brits over the age of 60 could be housebound due to the bad weather.
To add to the findings, half of those questioned also revealed that they are visited by their family members less than once a fortnight. Meaning that during the bad weather they risk being both housebound and alone.
Dr Hilary Jones, says, ‘No civilised society should stand back and witness the current levels of suffering that occurs each winter. It’s absolutely vital that elderly and vulnerable people, and their families, prepare for the onset of bad weather.’
However, many elderly people have their family members spread around the country so it is not always possible to visit regularly. Instead, they should ensure that a friend or neighbour locally to the elderly resident can check on them and make sure that they are keeping well.
Dr Hilary offers the following tips:
• Keep in touch regularly with anyone vulnerable and elderly.
• Make sure supplies are stocked in the house.
• Arrange a rota of visits and do everything practical to provide warmth and food.
• Install a reliable alarm should somebody fall and not be able to get to the telephone.
• Ensure all the numbers for the local doctor, district nurse and social services are at hand.
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