Preparation and awareness: three top tips for coping with Calgary’s changeable weather this winter
Winter has well and truly arrived in Calgary, with temperatures well below -10 degrees this weekend. Yet, in typical fashion, it will be 3 degrees again by midweek.
These fluctuating weather conditions means that we need to take a little extra care of ourselves. As one writer suggests:
“Surviving Calgary’s cold weather requires a combination of proper clothing, preparation, and awareness.”
So, here are three ways suggested by our Calgary home care team, for you to be both prepared and aware!
1) Keep active
It can be difficult to get motivated to move when the weather is cold and grey, but even a little bit of activity will help keep you warm, and maintain your core strength and mobility. If you can, wrap up well and get out into the fresh air
and move outside if it’s safe to do so.
If it’s a sunny day, you might think this would boost your vitamin D levels, but not at this time of year. During the summer our bodies can make sufficient levels of Vitamin D from exposure of our skin to sunlight. The same doesn’t apply in winter. Indeed according to Healthline, 50% of the world’s population have a vitamin D deficiency.
In addition, the further north you live of the equator, the more of the sun’s rays are absorbed by the ozone layer. According to one scientific study:
“Inhabitants living in Edmonton Canada at 52° North, Bergen Norway at 60° North, or Ushuaia Argentina at 55° South are unable to produce any significant vitamin D3 for about 6 mo of the year.”
Only a few everyday foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, including:
- cod liver oil
- swordfish
- salmon
- canned tuna
- beef liver
- egg yolks
- sardines
Eating these foods alone will not provide you with sufficient vitamin D alone. A proper balanced diet for senior health is very important, so ask your physician about taking a vitamin D supplement.
2) Stock up on supplies
With the weather changeable, we may not be able to get out to do shopping. So it pays to stock up on some essentials that you can take out of the store cupboard or freezer. These can include tinned and frozen vegetables, pasta and rice, frozen meat or batch-cooked meals, frozen milk, and extra tea and coffee.
At Vytality at Home, our caregivers can help with your meal planning and preparation, as well as grocery shopping. Equally important, they will help out your groceries away after delivery, so you know ingredients are in the right place when you need them.
In addition, your caregiver can ensure you have sufficient medical supplies including medications and ancillary supplies by conducting regular stock checks and advising what items needs replenishing.
3) Access professional services from Vytality at Home
At Vytality at Home, we have a wonderful range of partners to help you live in your own home independently for longer. Our Nutritionist, for example, can advise you on healthy meals, and draw up a schedule of recipes that you’ll enjoy both preparing and eating.
Our professional partners are selected from the very best local professionals and companies, and are vetted by us. We ensure they all share our commitment to providing exceptional service experiences, from healthcare to maintenance, IT and electronics to that winter essential, snow clearance! Just one call to our office and we can sort most trades to help you, and coordinate their visits too..
Get more from your home care with Vytality at Home
We love to help clients live independently for longer in their own home with assistance from our home care team. So, for more information, or to schedule your initial consultation:
