The post 4 Tips to Prepare for Wildfire Season as an Older Adult in Colorado first appeared on Vintage.

Fall in the Colorado mountains means that it is time to get ready for winter and thinking about fall prevention as we prepare for winter.

Here at Vintage, we are enjoying this cooler weather and using this time as an opportunity to prepare for winter here in Colorado. Our winters are long, icy, and full of hazards, in addition to being beautiful and one of the reasons we live in this beautiful state.

So, as we prepare for the long winter ahead, we wanted to share some fall prevention tips, winter preparation tactics, and some products that lower our fall risk now and year-round. 

10 Fall Prevention Tips

Here are our ten best fall prevention tips

1. Install automatic nightlights in your bedroom and bathroom. That way, when you wake up in the middle of the night, you can see your whole way to and from the toilet.
2. Keep your stairs clutter-free! It’s so easy to leave things on the stairs, so you remember to take them up or down, but they can be a considerable fall hazard if forgotten or they are in the way.
3. Keep cords tucked in and out of the way. TV cords, phone charging cords, and any other cords are a tripping hazard! Try to tuck them in or keep them out of the way.
4. Practice balance and exercise daily! The more you move, the more your body will be flexible and robust.
5. Check your vision regularly to ensure you can see any potential obstacles. If you wear glasses, keep them close to you to ensure you can see when you are up and about.
6. Add anti-slip rugs or pads under your rugs to your home, especially in the bathroom.
7. Wear footwear or socks with grips on them in the house to prevent from slippery socks on tile or wood floors
8. Take it slow and steady! Resisting rushing will ensure you are present in your movements and less likely to fall.
9. Check your medications and discuss with your doctor if they are causing you to feel lightheaded or woozy.
10. The last tip we have may be underrated but can impact a lot! Make sure you are getting adequate rest and sleep so that when you are awake and moving, you can be present and not in a fog!

Did you know that the National Council on Aging has many resources for Falls Prevention Awareness Week? They even have a Falls Free Checkup quiz you or your loved one can take to monitor your safety? Check it out today!

5 Things to do to Prepare for Winter

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is time for home.”

– Edith Sitwell

Winter in the high country, and all over Colorado, can be harsh and long. Here are four simple tips to get your house in tip-top shape and ensure you are not only safe inside your home but in your surrounding areas.

• Check your carbon monoxide alarm: 
  • When your heat is turned up all winter, chances of carbon monoxide poisoning can go up, especially when using gas heaters. Check to make sure it’s working correctly and put in new batteries!
• Set up Snow Removal Services: 
  • It’s a great idea to have a neighbor come by and shovel or pay a service to shovel your steps and walkways. Plus, employ one of Colorado’s dedicated snow plow drivers to take care of your driveway. This will relieve the burden of snow removal and ensure fewer barriers when walking to and from your car or even out to get the mail.
• If you have one, get your chimney cleaned by a professional:
  • This will ensure a safe fireplace in your home by removing the build-up that accumulates over the year and may even help your fire provide even more warmth!
• Have your door and window seals checked:
  • Drafty windows and doors are not fun, especially when you live at a high altitude. There are easy fixes your local handyman can make to ensure you are warm and cozy all winter long.

Fall Prevention Products for Older Adults:

Last but not least, we wanted to share some fall prevention products that can assist you during the winter and truly all year long. 

1. Adjustable Reachers

Stick with us here, adjustable reacheres are a perfect fall prevention product! That way when you are reaching for things up high or in a spot you just quite can’t reach, you will be able to do so without straining your body! Check them out! This Pik Stik Adustable Reacher has great reviews.

2. Double Tread Slipper Socks

Warm toes are important all year round but especially in the winter. These double tread slipper socks offer a warm and slip proof option to add to your sock drawer.

3. Door Frame Strap and Handle

This is a great way to get in and out of your car safely when the ground may be covered in ice or snow. 

4. Toilet Seat Frame 

We love products that assist in the bathroom, where falls are more likely to happen and this toilet seat frame allows you to get up with solid support from the toilet.

5. Medical Alert Bracelet

Last but not least, we want to share an important product that will assist you in case of a fall. Medical alert bracelets come in many different models and price points, but are a great resource for when a fall does happen. That way you can easily press a button and have help on the way!

Fall Prevention Saves Lives

Taking precautions for fall prevention can save you or a loved ones life! We hope this guide can help you prepare for winter and lessen the chances for falls in and around your home.

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A stroke happens when there is a blockage or interruption of blood supply to the brain. Strokes can have different short- and long-term effects depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly it is treated.

Stroke survivors can experience wide-ranging disabilities including difficulties with mobility and speech, as well as how they think and feel.

Fast access to treatment saves lives and improves stroke recovery.

You can identify the symptoms of a stroke by using and identifying each letter in the word FAST.

• Face – Is the person’s face drooping to one side?
• Arms – Does the person have a weakness in one arm?
• Speech – Is their speech slurred or garbled?
• Time – If this combination of symptoms is present it’s time to call 911.

Did you know?

• Nearly 14 million people will have a stroke this year and around 5.5 million people will die as a result.
• There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.
• High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.

What to Expect After a Stroke

Often times people recover and go back to lead normal lives post-stroke. However, they may experience some continuous problems such as:

• Paralysis (inability to move some parts of the body), weakness, or both on one side of the body.
• Trouble with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory.
• Problems understanding or forming speech.
• Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.
• Numbness or strange sensations.
• Pain in the hands and feet that worsens with movement and temperature changes.
• Trouble with chewing and swallowing.
• Problems with bladder and bowel control.
• Depression.

Preventing Another Stroke

Unfortunately, if you have had one stroke, you may have another.

• One in four strokes each year are recurrent.
• The chance of stroke within 90 days of a TIA may be as high as 17%, with the greatest risk during the first week.

According to https://www.cdc.gov/

10 things you can do to prevent strokes

Here are 10 things you can do to prevent stroke:

1. Lower your blood pressure.
2. Maintain a healthy weight.
3. Exercise more.
4. If you drink alcohol — do it in moderation.
5. Treat atrial fibrillation.
6. Treat and make healthy decisions to combat diabetes.
7. Quit smoking.
8. Check your cholesterol.
9. Take your medicines and prescriptions.
10. See a doctor regularly.

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