Stay well this winter! Have a glance at our checklist of things to do to keep healthy over the next few months. As well as providing sage advice, we’ve invited regular Shine contributor Betty Bennison to share her thoughts. Betty is in her 80s and lives in a supported living complex with her husband; she has some handy tips to keep health and fit.
DEC/JAN 2022/23 ISSUE
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Stay well this winter! Have a glance at our checklist of things to do to keep healthy over the next few months. As well as providing sage advice, we’ve invited regular Shine contributor Betty Bennison to share her thoughts. Betty is in her 80s and lives in a supported living complex with her husband; she has some handy tips to keep health and fit.
GET JABBED
If you haven’t already had them, you should get your winter flu vaccine and COVID booster as soon as possible. Health bosses are predicting that more people than usual are likely to get flu this winter, so it’s best to be on the safe side. You should be able to get your jabs at your local GP practice.
Betty says: “We’ve had both of ours. No reaction at all. It was fine.”​
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beware of bugs
Though COVID is less of a worry this winter, the virus is still circulating. So don’t forget to wash your hands often and if you’re mixing in large groups, keep your distance if you can. The “hands, face, space” message is relevant at all times if you don’t want to catch viruses.
Betty says: “We don’t mix a great deal anyway. I haven’t been into the big supermarkets, I only go to the little ones locally. I have a Sainsbury’s delivery every week.”
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stay cosy
If you can, it’s best to try and keep the inside of your home warm. The recommended temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees. As we all know, energy bills have gone up recently so if you can save power, do. One tip is to heat the room you’re using, as opposed to the whole house or flat. Sometimes this means turning radiators off and on, but a bit of extra effort is worth it, to know you’ll be warm and not worried too much about bills. If you get cold, it’s more likely you’ll get poorly.
Betty says: “I’m careful. I turn lights off. We don’t heat rooms we’re not using. We take precautions so we’re not paying for too much. I have two dressing gowns: a light summer one and a fluffy winter one. I sometimes wear my fluffy dressing gown over my clothes. If anyone comes to the door, I can whip it off so they don’t know!”
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home plus
If you can, it’s best to try and keep the inside of your home warm. The recommended temperature is between 18 and 21 degrees. As we all know, energy bills have gone up recently so if you can save power, do. One tip is to heat the room you’re using, as opposed to the whole house or flat. Sometimes this means turning radiators off and on, but a bit of extra effort is worth it, to know you’ll be warm and not worried too much about bills. If you get cold, it’s more likely you’ll get poorly.
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Betty says: “I’m careful. I turn lights off. We don’t heat rooms we’re not using. We take precautions so we’re not paying for too much. I have two dressing gowns: a light summer one and a fluffy winter one. I sometimes wear my fluffy dressing gown over my clothes. If anyone comes to the door, I can whip it off so they don’t know!”
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TUCK IN
Warm your body up with hot food, hot drinks and hot snacks. If you eat well, you can prevent illness. Some older people find they have a smaller appetite. This is normal but do try and eat something regularly. Try swapping your main meal to lunchtime, you might have more energy to make a proper meal in the morning. Snacks like peanut butter on toast give you an energy boost.
Betty says: “Now the weather has turned, I’ve started making soups. Last year we bought a soup maker, it’s a really good investment. You can buy cheap vegetables, throw them all in the mixer and you’ve got a lovely meal. And at very little cost. We have a hot meal every day, usually at lunchtime. And a sandwich later.”
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SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT
Try to get active at least once a day. A bit of exercise will warm you up. A walk to the local shop for the paper or going to a keep-fit class can do wonders. If you’d prefer to stay home, do try to keep active. Moving more can keep you well.
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Betty says: “My exercise is doing the housework! I’m limited how far I can walk. Taking the laundry up and down stairs is my version of keep-fit! At our age, you think you can still do what you used to do. You start to do a job but you realise halfway through you can’t complete it because you’re too tired. I do the jobs a little at a time. The other day I decided to clean the kitchen cupboards out. But I didn’t do it all at once. I did one cupboard a day!”
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CONNECT 4
Research shows that older people who have strong social connections tend to keep healthier for longer. We can all become isolated over the winter, especially when the weather is bad. Joining a club or activity where you live can help keep you feeling well. Find your local Neighbourhood Network. There are lots of opportunities to stay connected in Leeds this winter.
Betty Says: “I play Scrabble with a group where I live once a week. Just four of us. We’ve made friends with a gentleman who plays the organ. He took us to a concert where they play massive old cinema organs. All the old songs we could sing to. Then to an old cinema where there was an organ and a brass band. The atmosphere was fantastic. You just came out of there feeling alive. You must socialise. Even if it’s just talking to you r next-door neighbour. You feel better for it. Sitting by yourself is just no good.”
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DIB DIB DIB
Be prepared! Look at weather forecasts and have a stock of food in the cupboard if conditions become icy. It’s good to think ahead so if you’re not well, you can still eat.
Betty says: “I make sure I’ve got enough in the cupboards. I’ve only got a small freezer so I get these ready meals from a company called Parsley Box. They last about 6 months. So it means if I get stuck, I have a stash of them.”
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