The weather people are saying its going to be a cold winter in 2005/2006.
Met Office weather forecast
So here is some advice from Age Concern for our older church members. We care about you very much, so have a read and be sensible.
It is essential to keep warm at home.
The general principle is that you should keep the temperature in the rooms you are using at around 21°C (70°F). A room thermometer will help you to check that you have the right temperature.
Warm clothing
Around the home, dress for warmth and comfort:
several thinner layers of clothing will retain more heat than one or two thick layers: heat gets trapped between the different layers and reduces heat loss from the body
long-sleeved and thermal underwear helps keep you warmer
a thin silky scarf or neckerchief worn inside the collar will help keep your neck and shoulders warm.
Outdoors, take care to dress for the weather and wrap up warmly. Exposure to cold and wind produces physiological changes that make the blood more likely to clot, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke:
up to half of body heat is lost through the head, so a hat or headscarf is essential
several thin layers of clothing under a coat will keep you warmer than one or two thicker layers
wear warm, dry, flat boots or shoes with good non-slip soles, especially in frosty or wet weather.
A good diet
What you eat makes an important difference to your health. Healthy eating will reduce the risks of developing heart disease, some cancers, constipation, obesity and tooth decay. Eating properly plays a big part in keeping warm and well. During cold weather, hot meals every day and regular hot drinks will give you extra warmth and energy.
A well-balanced diet means a variety of different foods each day:
bread, cereals, potatoes and foods made from flour, such as pasta and chapatis
fruit and vegetables
milk and dairy foods
meat, fish and alternatives such as lentils and beans
food containing fat and sugar.
Try to eat some food from each of the first four groups every day, varying the actual food to get all the different nutrients and to keep variety in your diet. Foods with fat and sugar add extra variety and flavour, but should not be eaten too often or in large amounts.
It's a good idea to have a hot drink before bedtime and prepare a thermos of a warm drink to keep by the bed at night.
Exercise
Physical activity increases appetite and reduces the risk of heart disease, sleeplessness and several other conditions. Therefore, try to keep as active as possible. Any kind of activity will do, from walking to the shops to dusting and cleaning a room. Five days a week, half-an-hour's exercise is recommended.
Sitting down for long stretches should be avoided; get up and move around at regular intervals. And if you have difficulty walking, just moving your arms and legs and wiggling your fingers and toes will help. NB If you decide to take up some new form of exercise, have a check-up with your GP before you start. The GP or practice nurse may also be able to suggest an activity class or group you could join. Local Age Concern offices may also have information on activities and groups.
The Department of Health have more information on their website to help with all sorts of issues like keeping a warm home too. If you are someone who works with older people, then check out their available resources.
