Winter Proofing Your Independence

As I sit solidly in my mid-fifties and look both behind and ahead of me, I am noticing some things worthy of noting. My back is not as strong as it once was for snow shoveling. Dialogue in movies sometimes feels too fast. I get irrationally annoyed when an app changes its layout. Aging is not dramatic — it unfolds quietly, in small moments that surprise us. 

I have been thinking about this as many of our neighbors sit at home with feet of snow still lining their streets and driveways. Getting older shows up differently for each of us, but like it or not winter has a way of revealing it to us. 

I have a woman in the later chapters of her life whom I lovingly call my “rental mom.” When the last big storm was predicted, I worried about her. I was too far away to do much more than make a phone call. She put my mind at ease immediately: “We’ve been preparing for years to make sure I’m okay in circumstances just like these.” 

That sentence stayed with me. The “we” she referred to included her late husband and her adult kids as well as a team of service providers and of course her as the matriarch. 

Winter rewards preparation. And no one understands preparation better than someone who has lived through 50 (or more) of them. 

We don’t need another lecture about why snow and cold can be risky. Many of us already know the realities: ice increases fall risk, moving heavy snow in the cold strains the heart and lungs, and isolation can settle in during long stretches of gray days. What matters more is what we do with that knowledge. 

Preparation does not mean doing everything yourself as you can see from the example above. In fact, the wisest winter plans often include deciding what not to do. 

A few simple steps make a real difference: 

• Arrange snow removal before the first storm. 
• Keep a few days of food, water, and medications on hand. 
• Charge your phone and keep emergency numbers written down. 
• Use traction cleats or a cane with an ice tip if needed. 
• Keep indoor temperatures at 68° or above. 
• Avoid shoveling if you have heart, back, or lung concerns. 

We see too many preventable falls this time of year. Black ice is still invisible. No driveway is worth a hospital stay. 

And then there is the part we talk about less: winter loneliness. Storms can intensify silence. Grief can feel heavier in the dark months. Staying well also means staying connected — scheduling check-in calls, joining a senior center program (of which we have many on Aquidneck Island), or simply letting someone know you would appreciate a storm-day phone call. 

One theme comes up repeatedly when I listen to elders I respect: they do not want to be a burden. 

But strength is not doing everything alone. Strength is knowing what is worth doing — and what is not. 

Asking for help with heavy snow today may be the very thing that keeps you independent longer tomorrow. Most adult children would much rather receive a phone call asking for assistance than a call from the emergency room. 

The goal is not to do everything yourself. The goal is to stay well for as long as you are here. 

As we head into the latter part of winter here in New England, may we each take a few thoughtful steps to prepare for the last hurrah of Old Man Winter this season — and give ourselves permission to accept support when it protects our health and dignity.