Once the family visits and exciting events that accompany the holidays pass, Boise’s snowy winters can make it difficult for seniors to stay connected and engaged throughout the winter months. Snow, colder temperatures and earlier sunsets all make it more difficult to get out, especially at night.
That can quickly lead to isolation and loneliness for anyone, but especially older adults. However, Boise has plenty of senior winter wellness resources that make it easier—and even fun—to enjoy the snowy months.
Senior Winter Wellness Resources in Boise
Under all that snow, Boise has a wealth of resources to help keep seniors engaged and thriving even during the winter. Here are a few steps you can take to improve your loved one’s wellness during the colder months:
Handle Snow Removal for Them
It’s hard to get out and about in the winter when the first step out your front door feels like a hazard. One of the best steps you can take to help older adults feel secure enough to brave the elements is helping them keep steps, walkways and driveways clear.
Remove the temptation for them to break out a shovel by handling it yourself or reaching out to local services that will take care of any snow during the winter.
It’s important to find a service that won’t just remove snow, but will ensure hazardous black ice doesn’t develop afterward. We recommend Boise Snow & Ice in particular. They won’t just plow your loved one’s driveway; they’ll pre-treat the area before the snow falls, clear any snow, then come back to post-treat to keep the area ice-free.
If ice has already built up over the course of the winter, they’ll help to clear it and proactively prevent your loved one’s walkways from icing over again.
Choose Something to Look Forward To
Having something to look forward to offers impressive mental health benefits, reducing stress and improving confidence. Similarly, lifelong learners tend to be happier and healthier than their peers. That’s why signing your loved one up for a lifelong learning class is a great way to keep them engaged and stimulated even during the darkest months of the year.
Fortunately, there’s a fantastic option right in your backyard. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University offers a wide range of classes for seniors. They can take classes on everything from the history of wolves to journaling and even the world of specialty coffee.
Registration forms and the course catalog are available right on their website; you can sign up here.
Help Them Connect with Others
Another way to give your loved one something to look forward to is to find them a regular social occasion. Not only does it give them an element of their routine they can get excited about, repeatedly returning to the same event is one of the best ways to build new friendships.
If a senior in your life could use a regular social occasion, look no further than the activities at the Dick Eardley Senior Center, which hosts a wide range of things for older people to do—with each one on a weekly or monthly schedule. They’ve got:
- Arts and crafts groups like painting, knitting and crocheting.
- A huge variety of games, including (but not limited to) cribbage, euchre, mahjong, billiards and bingo.
- Light exercise classes like gentle yoga and tai chi.
- A social group that meets for lunch at a different spot each week.
Get Companion Care You Can Rely On
Winter in Idaho can be isolating, but thanks to the resources that Boise has to offer, it doesn’t have to be. From fun activities and stimulating classes to practical assistance managing snow, seniors in Boise have plenty of ways to gain peace of mind during the colder months.
If you know a senior who needs a little help with daily living, FirstLight Home Care of Boise is here for them. Our caregivers are trained to offer companion care, a form of assistance where they become a trusted friend and genuine companion to your loved one, helping with things like transportation, mobility and grocery shopping as well as dressing and bathing.
Want to learn more about how we can make the winter easier for your loved one? Contact us today.
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