Being comfortable and being warm together
1) Dress the part
- Go for layers of looser fitting clothing to trap in your body heat
- Wear natural fibres like wool, cotton and silk
- Hats and scarves can look and feel great
- Gloves can make a big difference when you are in the wind outdoors
2) Keep your feet warm
- make sure that you are not wearing anything that would be slippery that could risk a fall
3) Throws
- have one on your couch to snuggle in when you are watching TV
4) Stay active
- Exercise In accordance with your health and fitness level
- Stretches with resistance bands – ask your exercise physiologist or physiotherapist for the best ones for you
5) Keep hydrated
- Warm drinks are comforting
- Soups are great for getting your fluids and vegetable intake
- Select warming herbal teas like ginger tea and use cinnamon sticks to stir just about any herbal tea
6) Keep your skin hydrated too
- Cold winds can dry out your skin, so keep up the moisturiser and lip balm
7) Eat well
- Roast dinners are comforting and having the oven on can also warm the kitchen too.
- Chile warms you up and you can have it in many ways, like Mexican food, Asian food and Italian meals
8) Manage your windows
- During the day open blinds and windows and let in the sunlight
- At night close the blinds and curtains to better insulate
- Replace thin curtains with heavier drapes to insulate the windows
9) Block drafts
- Check the gaps between the bottom of doors and the floor – a door snake can make a huge difference to block off drafts
- Close doors to rooms that you are not using
10) Consult your health practitioner
- to make sure you are having enough B Vitamins and iron. These are available in foods, however, some people may not get enough or absorb enough so may need supplementation.
Helping you get the right care
Our help is absolutely free and we will guide you through everything you need to know about accessing government-funded home care. Call us on 1300 20 90 20
