Irish Home Care Company host a series of seminars advising older people how to stay fit and healthy

Sept. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Cold weather can lead to health problems such as pneumonia, strokes, heart attack and depression. Research has shown that those who are over 60 are more vulnerable to these cold-related illnesses. In Ireland it is reported that we have up to 2,000 excess winter deaths each year.

So with all this talk of another long, cold, snowy winter ahead the health specialists at Be Independent Home Care are delivering seminars throughout Dublin which will focus on practical tips for how older people can stay healthy and fit during the winter months ahead.

The first seminar is to be presented by Be Independent Home Care to the Malahide Active Retirement Association (MARA) members on the 5th of October 2011 in the Grand Hotel Malahide. The presentation which will cover a variety of Health & Wellness topics will be presented by the co-founder of Be Independent Home Care, Caitriona O' Donovan. Caitriona is a registered general nurse and has presented seminars on wellness in the UK and Ireland for over 10 years on topics such as Exercise, Diet and Stress Management.

The key tips contained within the upcoming winter seminars delivered by Be Independent Home Care are summarised as follows:

•   Keep Your House Warm: It is vital to stay warm to reduce cold-related illness and deaths. Your main living room should be between around 18-21C  and the rest of the house at a minimum of 16C. You can also use a hot-water bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same time) to keep warm while you're in bed. Check what type of electric blanket you have if you use one – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not to be used throughout the night.

•   Wrap up warm:  Several thin layers of clothes are better than one thick layer. Don't forget to wear hats, gloves and scarves. If possible, stay inside during a cold period if you have heart or respiratory problems.



•   Keep active. Move around at least once an hour and don't sit down for long periods of time. Even light exercise will help keep you warm. Physical activity is one of the most effective ways of positively influencing health. Regular exercise can lower our risk of getting serious conditions, such as stroke, heart disease and certain cancers. It can add years to our lives, but most importantly, it keeps us happy and helps us maintain our independence.

•   Avoid Falls: One of the most threatening winter hazards is the potential for slipping and falling on patches of ice or snow. These falls can lead to a variety of injuries so appropriate footwear during the winter months is essential. Rubber soles provide better traction on snow and ice than either leather or plastic soles. Avoid rushing or taking shortcuts through the snow or over icy areas. If you have to walk over slippery surfaces, bend your body slightly forward, take shorter strides, or shuffle your feet for better traction and stability. Be careful getting into and out of the car. This is when many falls occurs.  Stay on clean, clear pathways or ones that have been treated with sand or salt. Take advantage of floor mats when you enter buildings. These help remove moisture from your shoes. Once indoors, avoid walking on wet or slippery surfaces.

•   Get the Flu Vaccine:  The flu vaccine can prevent you from catching flu and the HSE strongly recommend the flu vaccination for persons 65 and over.

•   Eat Well: Make sure your immune system is in tip-top condition. Studies show that a healthy diet affects cognitive performance and energy levels, not to mention long-term health. Eat a variety of foods from five of the six major food groups (fruits; vegetables; breads and cereals; milk and cheeses; meat, poultry, fish, and dry beans) to obtain all the nutrients needed for good health. Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible. Winter is the perfect season for porridge. Eating a warm bowlful on a cold morning helps you to boost your intake of starchy foods and fibre, which give you energy and help you to feel fuller for longer. Oats also contain lots of vital vitamins and minerals.

•   Manage Stress: Try and share your feelings and problems as much as possible.  Lead an active social life so you can keep busy. Consider joining a volunteer group or a local club.  But remember you also need adequate rest and relaxation so don’t overdo it!

•   Sleep Well: In winter, we naturally sleep more, due to the longer nights. In fact it’s perfectly natural to adopt hibernating habits when the weather turns cold so use this time to catch up with sleep.

•   Look out for elderly friends and neighbours. Check they're safe and well through the winter. Make sure they're warm enough, especially at night, and have stocks of food and medicines so they don't need to go out during very cold weather.

Caitriona O' Donovan co-founder of Be Independent Home Care, who will presenting the seminars says “Our objective at Be Independent Home Care is to help assist individuals to remain healthy and independent in their homes and so presenting on subjects such as exercise, diet and stress management within the communities that we operate in is an important part of what we aim to achieve. Winter is often considered the unhealthiest time of year with our bodies telling us to hibernate but the objective of delivering these wellness seminars is to  inform older people how to stay healthy and fit, no matter what the weather's like. We will be delivering these seminars in communities throughout Dublin during the winter”.


For further information please contact Be Independent Home Care in Malahide or Howth on (01) 8283030 or website www.beindependenthomecare.ie

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Be Independent Home Care has been set up by a group of Irish nurses. They have carefully recruited, trained and closely manage a quality team of carers who provide closely supervised non medical Home Care and Home Help Services throughout Dublin and surrounds.

Be Independent Home Care services range from companionship, personal support, meal preparation, general upkeep of the home, to support for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s and Palliative Care Services. In addition to providing these services for older people, Be Independent Home Care also support clients recovering from illness or injury and younger disabled people

Tax relief can be claimed at up to 41% making this an extremely cost effective care solution. Contact (01) 8283030 or website www.beindependenthomecare.ie