This week is the winter solstice. I feel better just knowing the days will start to grow longer. Many older adults feel the cold, which isn’t going away quite so soon, and the dark to a greater degree. Sometimes it’s because they have stopped the utilities to the house. It surprises folks how often older people don’t have power, gas, phone or even water. Sometimes the upkeep of plumbing or wiring has gotten too far behind. Other times paying the bill on time is too much.
Even those who have electric lights may have effects from the long nights of winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes over a person who isn’t exposed to adequate natural light. The best treatment is full sunlight on the face within fifteen minutes of waking. If you wake up two hours before sunrise, you need a different therapy. The internal clock shifts backwards with age, the older one gets, the more likely he is to retire early and then rise early. Banks of special artificial light can do the trick for two thirds of SAD sufferers, others may require medication.
Falls are likely in the twilight. If you have holiday decorations up, I bet you have trip hazards of extension cords too. If the cold has numbed your feet, you might not notice slippery or uneven footing until it’s too late.
So this is the part where I have some wise recommendation to ease the problem. If you know an older adult with no power in their home, call Adult Protective Services. They may already be aware, but they might just have the right help. When the mail piles up, it’s hard to fill out the applications for lifeline services alone. But this may keep the lights on for an elder. If you are having trouble getting around on your own, start making changes that will keep you safe. Grab bars, throw out the throw rugs, get a shower seat, remember The Clapper! I don’t know how wise any of that is. I’ll do better when I get more daylight.