Living at home alone is ideal for many, but it does come with some hurdles.
When your mom or dad live alone, going outside for walks provides needed exercise. You worry about wintry driveways, sidewalks, and roads. If your parent slips and falls while walking, hours may pass before someone notices.
To counteract this, make sure your mom or dad has the right boots for a winter walk. Use these tips to buy the best winter boots for your aging parent.

Home Care in Rahway NJ: Senior Winter Safety
Choose the Right Size
Get a boot that fits correctly with thick socks. Thick socks insulate the feet against the cold. You don’t want the boot to fit too tightly with the socks. That increases the risk of rubbing and blisters. You also don’t want the boot too loose. If the foot slips around in it, the risk of twisting an ankle increases.
Look for Waterproof Outer Shells
The exterior of the boot should be waterproof. Melting snow, slush, and rain won’t leak through the shell and make the feet and socks wet. Aim for a material that won’t freeze and crack in very cold temperatures.
Removable Liners Wash and Dry With Ease
If possible, get boots that have removable liners. If water does get into the boots, the liners can be removed and dried near a fire or in the clothes dryer. It also makes them easier to wash if they smell sweaty.
Choose Boots That Breathe
Boots that allow some air to flow through helps keep a sweaty foot from becoming wet and cold. Choose a boot that has a waterproof foot and then a different material from the ankle up. GORE-TEX is one material that insulates and also allows the foot to breathe.
Deep Tread Lowers the Risk of Slipping
When walking on ice and packed snow, deep, gripping treads help with stability and traction. Look for boots that have treads that are designed for ice. Consider adding snow/ice cleats that strap on to the boots if there is a lot of ice.
Look at the Temperature Rating
Boots are rated for different temperatures. If the weather dips into the 0 to 10 F range, your parent wants a boot that stands up to those temperatures. Choosing a boot that keeps feet warm to 20 below may be ideal in that case.
Don’t have your parents walk alone in the winter. Hire caregivers to stop by, help with household chores, and walk with your mom or dad. Make arrangements by calling a home care agency and asking about caregivers, pricing, and schedules.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Care in Rahway, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299.
Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside, and the surrounding areas.
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