Autumn safety tips for older people

Many people know of the health hazards that arise in summer and winter; from dehydration in the heat to the risks of hypothermia arising from the winter chill. Autumn is often overlooked in comparison; however, older people may still face some challenges at this time of year.

With temperatures starting to drop and less daylight hours, autumn can be a challenging time of year for many.

In this article, we look at some common autumnal hazards and share some safety tips for the elderly. Whether you’re an older adult yourself or are looking for ways to help an elderly loved one through this season, we hope you’ll find the advice useful at this time of year.

Common hazards found during autumn:

Fallen leaves

Fallen leaves that become wet or have started to decay can create slip risks in two ways, they hide any hazard that may be on the path or they themselves create a slip risk.

Wet weather

As temperatures dip, the UK climate becomes wetter, but it’s not just rain that needs to be considered. Even on dry days, autumn mornings are frequently damp and dewy, which will make surface, machinery and walkways slippery.

Ice

For slips and falls on ice, two of the most common injuries are extremely concerning: broken bones and head trauma. Even when the fall doesn’t seem that serious, your body can experience significant trauma. 

Poor visibility

It takes time to adjust to the reduced light of autumn and winter with darker nights and mornings, but it’s not just the increased levels of darkness that can affect vision.

Mist and fog, particularly common in autumn, also hamper visibility. So too can the sun. Sitting lower in the sky it can be dazzling and make seeing your way safely, extremely difficult.

Cooler temperatures

As the temperatures dip, it’s important to keep warm. Cooler mornings, evenings and harsh cold spells can lead to illness and hyperthermia if incorrect clothing is worn.

Safety tips when out and about during autumn

Our tips for getting out and about safely at this time of year include:

• Dressing appropriately for the weather. The older we get, the less well our bodies can regulate temperature. Warm layers on colder days, sturdy footwear and waterproof jackets/coats can make a big difference during this season, when sudden rain showers and tricky conditions underfoot are likely.
• If you do worry about your safety when you are out and about, consider wearing a GPS-enabled personal alarm specifically designed to be worn when out and about. If something were to happen, you can access help and they’ll be able to pinpoint have your exact location.

Safety tips for inside the home during autumn:

Our tips for getting out and about safely at this time of year include:

• Dressing appropriately for the weather. The older we get, the less well our bodies can regulate temperature. Warm layers on colder days, sturdy footwear and waterproof jackets/coats can make a big difference during this season, when sudden rain showers and tricky conditions underfoot are likely.
• If you do worry about your safety when you are out and about, consider wearing a GPS-enabled personal alarm specifically designed to be worn when out and about. If something were to happen, you can access help and they’ll be able to pinpoint have your exact location.

Some top safety considerations include:

• Making sure that there is adequate lighting indoors, especially as daylight hours are shorter, to help prevent avoidable slips, trips and falls around the home.
• Removing trip hazards or clutter in hallways like trailing wires, clutter and rugs to lower the risk of causing a fall. If you are still worried about your likelihood of falling, you could invest in a Falls Detector, which is designed to monitor your movements and raise an alert if it detects a fall.
• Checking that everything in your heating system is in good working order before you start to heavily rely on it during the autumn and winter months. Faulty heating systems are a fire hazard and must be dealt with immediately.

We hope this article gives you plenty of insight into keeping safe at this time of year. Remember that trip hazards escalate in autumn and continue throughout winter, so implementing prevention methods and extra caution is critical.

With these safety tips in mind, you and your loved ones are ready to enjoy all the wonders autumn offers.