Keep warm and well this winter

It is even more important than ever to keep warm and well this winter.

We have not been able to get out and about as much this year, activities that make us happy and included have been cancelled and the pandemic has taken its toll. All the more reason to keep as well as we can during the coming winter months.

How can you keep yourself warm and well this winter?

Ask for help – don’t be afraid to ask!
Talking to someone can help reassure you and reduce your stress and worry

•  Talk to family, friends and neighbours to let them know how they can help
•  Your local community may have support groups you could contact

You can call us at Age UK County Durham on 0191 386 3856 if you need help, advice or support

Keep moving/exercising

• Regular and short spells of activity in your own home can help you to keep strong and mobile
• Try not to sit still for more than one hour at a time
• Try to exercise, even if you are home-based, there are exercises you can do daily to help your mobility 
• Keep your hands and feet warm

Eat well

• Try to keep up with your normal routines as much as possible
• The most important thing is to eat, even if the only thing you fancy is a slice of cake, something is always better than nothing
• Get one of our eat well feel great recipe books, which has healthy and delicious recipe ideas for snacks and meals, developed especially for one or two people

Get your free flu jab  

• Everyone aged 65 and over and anyone who cares for a friend or family member, is entitled to a free flu jab this year from their GP or pharmacist
• Check to see if you are also eligible for the pneumo vaccine, which helps protect you from pneumonia

Try to keep your home warm 

• Try to heat your home to a steady and comfortable temperature throughout the day
• Keep a small shawl or blanket to pop over your knees when sitting down
  Wear a scarf – it can keep you cosy and warm too and will help ease any aches and pains in your neck and shoulders
• It's also a good idea to keep your bedroom window closed at night when the weather is coldest and close the curtains at dusk to keep the heat in
  

Wrap up well if you are going outside

• If you're going outside, the temperature can drop drastically as the sun goes down so take a hat, some gloves and a scarf with you, even if you don’t need them immediately 
• Keep track of local weather updates on local news and radio programme, so you can plan ahead and be prepared
• Watch out for our weather alerts in our news section on our website and on our Facebook posts

Keep your essential supplies well stocked

• Try to keep a good supply of quick and easy meals to prepare or tinned items such as soup which are always good for keeping hunger away and making us feel warm
• It could be a good idea to stock up on cold and sore throat remedies. Your pharmacist can give you advice if you're feeling under the weather about what might help
• Make a list of the things you need day to day including food, household essentials and medication. This will help you to keep track of what you need to get in
  
• Don’t forget to think about the things you may want to keep going with hobbies and interests at home
  

Be prepared

• Keeping your useful telephone numbers handy (including, family and friends, your GP, local council, carers, local pharmacy and delivery services and download our Keep Warm and Well leaflet that has lots of useful numbers too 
• Have a list of your medications and when you take them and important medical information to hand
• If you have a mobile phone and/or access to the internet, think about how you could use them to help (online shopping, video calls, sending and receiving emails and messages) and check you are confident you know how to use these services

Stay safe, stay warm and make the time to look after yourself this winter

More information can be found on Age UK’s website