PREPARE FOR THAT COLD WINTER WEATHER WINTERIZE YOUR HOME!
The weather outside can be frightful, especially for older adults! Depending on where you live, winter can be a brutal season with its harsh chill and icy conditions. But the proper preparations and maintenance can make things much safer. If you can’t do it alone, enlist a friend or a loved one to winterize your home to ensure the safest environment possible, starting with these three things. SHOVEL AND SALT YOUR WALKWAYS. A slip-and-fall accident is one of the most common ways a senior can suffer serious or deadly injury. If you fall, you risk breaking a bone or being left unattended for hours — or even days — at a time. A fall outside during extreme temperatures can be life-threatening.
your walkways to the car or mailbox are salted or shoveled to create a clear, safe path. You could even consider hiring a neighborhood teen to do it for you! The last thing you want to do is put yourself at risk if you cannot salt or shovel the walkways yourself. PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES. The possibility of losing power increases with heavy snowfall and icy conditions. Whether the power lines are heavy with ice or snow, or the roads are slippery and dangerous, these can lead to serious accidents. So, it’s best to prepare for the inevitable.
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Hats, scarves, and sweaters
Nonperishable foods
Take stock of your medications.
Some illnesses like thyroid problems or diabetes make it hard to stay warm. Doctor-prescribed medications and over-the-counter remedies may also affect your body heat. Speak with your doctor about your medications and how they may affect you during cold, chilly nights. If you’re in an area with guaranteed snowfall, have enough of your medications to last at least a week. Ready or not, winter is coming! There’s no time like the present to prepare for the cold season, so use these tips to create a warm, cozy environment and enjoy this winter season in the safest way possible.
Be sure to stock up and keep the following items on hand at home and in your car:
To reduce the risk of slips and falls, you — or a loved one or friend — can make sure
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Flashlights and batteries
Blankets in an accessible location
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His son was missing out on a lot of rich benefits. Stan was dumbfounded. He said, “I never heard of this stuff before. Why didn’t he know this?”
made suggestions. I rephrased my answers. He rephrased the words for me. They were better.
Dave decided not to go with the “why” question because it took too much time, even with my summarized version of the story. He wanted to focus on the common Medicare mistakes people make and that our services are free.
I told him, “Well, you never met a guy like me to find out. Or have me on a news show.” I gave him my business card.
By this point, I was feeling pretty good. I had my spiel down. The advertising sales guy liked my tie and jacket. The female producer said, “You look handsome in that outfit.” I wanted to correct her that men don’t wear “outfits.” I was pumped! Then, they said it was time to go. I panicked. My heart went through the roof. My shirt was soaking through again. When I entered the studio, Dave Webber greeted me. He could not have been more gracious. His incredibly velvety announcer voice made me relax right away.
When they turned the cameras on, I had one hard swallow, and it flowed smoothly. We were done. Two minutes felt like two seconds. We only did one taping. I was amazed at how easily it all went. Afterward, Dave and I chatted about some common people we knew. He walked me to the station’s door and told me to call him if I needed anything. He could not have been more of a gentleman.
I wanted to go to 50 Shades of Green to celebrate it being over. I went back to work instead.
I can’t believe how wound up I got about something so simple as talking about Medicare. That may be how some of you feel when you first discuss Medicare. I can better sympathize now.
I was fascinated by how Dave put the interview together. He worked through the questions the producer handed him. Thinking out loud, he tried to determine which questions were important and which were not. He practiced asking me questions. I practiced answering. He
–Christopher J. Grimmond
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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