Dementia Patients Staying Safe, Warm, and Connected During Colder Weather

Donna R DeMarco, AAS, CDP, BC-HIS

As temperatures drop and daylight hours shorten, colder weather can bring new challenges for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Changes in temperature awareness, judgment, balance, and memory may make it harder to recognize the need for a coat, notice icy walkways, or remember winter safety precautions.  

With a little preparation and support, families and care partners can help make the colder months safe, comfortable, and meaningful.

6 Practical Ways to Make Colder Weather Easier

1. Make getting dressed a little easier.

Keep coats, hats, scarves, mittens, and nonslip footwear in an easy-to-find location. Offer simple choices, such as a red coat or a blue coat, and encourage the person to participate in dressing as much as they comfortably can. Layers are helpful because they can be adjusted as temperatures change. Have a routine for putting on hearing aids at the sometime every day after getting dressed and before coats and hats.

2. Keep the home warm and comfortable.

Check indoor temperatures regularly and aim to keep the home at least 68°F. Warm socks, comfortable slippers, and cozy blankets can help, too. Use space heaters and electric blankets cautiously, as they can create fire and burn risks. 

3. Plan ahead for outdoor activities.

Check the weather before heading outside, keep walkways clear of fallen leaves, ice, and snow, and allow extra time when walking. Good lighting and sturdy, nonslip footwear can help reduce falls. If conditions are unsafe, bring the outdoors inside with nature photographs, seasonal decorations, or a sunny spot by the window. Before winter comes make sure to have their hearing aids brought in for a professional cleaning to keep them in top listening conditions.  

4. Keep familiar routines going.

Shorter days and changes in activity can make routines more important. Maintain familiar meal and sleep schedules, encourage movement indoors, and find enjoyable activities that suit the person's interests and abilities. Folding warm laundry, preparing a favorite recipe, or listening to familiar music can bring comfort and a sense of purpose. Hearing aids can help with balance, understanding, keeping dementia at bay and overall wellbeing.  

5. Turn family visits into meaningful moments.

Family members can help with winter preparations while spending quality time together. Invite them to organize warm clothing, prepare a favorite soup, decorate for the season, look through family photographs, or share stories about past winters. The goal isn't to complete a perfect project; it's to enjoy time together and support the person's continued involvement. 

6. Make checking in a family effort.

Cold snaps, snowstorms, and power outages can create additional challenges. Families can coordinate regular check-ins, grocery and medication deliveries, transportation, and backup plans if the heat goes out. Sharing responsibilities can help everyone feel more prepared and reduce the burden on a single care partner. Having hearing aids with a battery backup charger can give hearing aids about 3 charges before you have to charge the charger. 

A Gentle Reminder People living with dementia may not always recognize when they are too cold or understand the risks of icy conditions.

 Watch for signs of discomfort and changes in behavior and respond with patience and reassurance. Unusual confusion, slurred speech, significant drowsiness, or uncontrolled shivering after cold exposure may indicate hypothermia, which requires immediate emergency medical attention.

Winter can still be a season of connection. With thoughtful preparation, familiar routines, and support from family and care partners, colder days can offer opportunities for comfort, meaningful activity, and time together.

“There are many families within our community coping with Alzheimer’s and the challenges it presents. Accurate Hearing wants to help ensure that the hearing health of those in our community with Alzheimer’s is appropriately managed. Hearing loss, when left unaddressed, can compound difficulties that people with Alzheimer’s and their families already face. But in many cases, appropriate use of hearing aids can benefit people with hearing loss, including individuals with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.” 

Call Accurate Hearing today for a FREE hearing test 907-644-6004. We are here to help.

Donna R DeMarco, AAS, CDP, BC-HIS

Tinnitus Care Provider Holding a Certificate from the International Hearing Society