There is a comic going around Facebook right now with the request for someone to please stop shaking the snow globe in which all of New England seems to be living. This is a reasonable and humorous thought. Here in New England we have broken multiple records this winter.
In Boston the snow total for the month of February has beat the record by 15 inches as noted in this table from the weather Channel.
February 2015: 58.5 inches as of 1 p.m. Feb. 15
January 2005: 43.3 inches
January 1945: 42.3 inches
Winter storms became important enough to be named in the 2012-2013 season and Juno and Marcus this year alone have combined to top winter snow totals. Jan. 26-28, 2015 (Juno): 24.6 inches
Feb. 7-10, 2015 (Marcus): 23.8 inches. This weekend we have survived Neptune and we are looking at Octavio coming up the eastern seaboard this week. It certainly makes us hope we don’t reach Zelus, the name set aside for the 26th winter storm of the 2014-2015 season. And it almost erases the memories of the Thanksgiving storm that had many of us trying to figure out how to cook a turkey without power.
In our mid-fifties it is draining to be outside shoveling and snow blowing every 3rd day. My husband Randy has been up on a 20 foot ladder numerous times clearing ice dams that have caused leaks. A wonderful neighbor tipped him off to ice melt in panty hose so we now have ladies stockings adorning the tops of our windows. Anything that works.
But as exhausted as we may be from the activity of the winter storms, the elderly are at risk this time of year and need more frequent visits if living at home. The seniors living in New England are more likely to cancel doctor visits during the frigid temperatures and snow storms that we are experiencing. Without the encouragement and support of a caregiver an early infection could be left un-noticed until pneumonia sets in.
Errands seem daunting when you can’t seem to get warm in your own home and so food in the pantry may begin to dwindle. Hydration and nutrition suffer.
As family hunker down and try to manage their own home, the elderly can be left with fewer visits and less monitoring. Social isolation grows and minds can become idle.
If you know of a senior in your neighborhood who may need someone to check in on them, take a few minutes to call or knock on the door. Bring over a meal and ask them if you can pick anything up while you attend to your own groceries. And if the door is opened, enter your elderly neighbor’s with a watchful eye and a listening ear. Are they more tired than usual, do things look as if they are in disarray? These could be signs that a regular visit is in order.
In times of record breaking weather the elderly need more attention and this is a wonderful opportunity to take a break from shoveling the roof and to spend time being a great neighbor. Of course it goes without saying that their roof may need some shoveling as well!