Snowbirds drive south for the winter.  Migratory birds fly south for the winter.  This year, both are feeling the impact that the 2023-2024 El Nino weather cycle disrupting their lives.  No one can deny that this winter is harsh, downright dangerous for many people. El Nino weather patterns cycle in and out as do La Nina.  I am not a climatologist, nor do I play one on television, so I will not attempt to dazzle you with my knowledge. The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration is a much more reliable source then me.

Living through that Purple Line

The rising sea surface temperatures directly impacts the weather patterns across the globe. Last summer was the hottest in recorded world history. Currently many places in the northern hemisphere wake up new lows and snow and ice like never before. No one can escape this pattern as both sides of the equator are seeing seasonal patterns disrupted.

Vulnerable People Suffer Most

The 2023 HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress is a great reference on the growing number and distribution of homelessness by state and nationally. This HUD report includes people who are receiving housing and other social programs offered by communities and states and deserves our attention. However, my concern are the housed senior and disabled Americans who live with considerable risks during these extreme weather events.

Social Drivers of Health

Call it drivers or determinants (SDoH), these social factors are health issues. I prefer the optimistic “drivers” terminology when discussing access to care services, community engagement through safe streets and transportation options, education, recreation, employment, food, and housing.

Weather’s Impact on SDOH

An El Nino cycle is the rapid, rollercoaster-like changes that are so dangerous. The evening news broadcasts are filled with stories like people stuck in a snowstorm traffic pile up without adequate supplies are at risk of hypothermia or worse. Many vulnerable people live in fear of falling on icy surfaces therefore they confine themselves to home even when they need health services, food, medicine, and visiting public places to get the help. This is a double-edged sword since it has the dangerous potential for increasing a person’s social isolation and loneliness. Additionally, caregivers and care workers are finding these conditions difficult to navigate as evidence in this heartbreaking story out of Alaska.

Topsy-Turvy Weather

The year 2023 was the hottest on record. The winter of 2024 may be the coldest on record. The summer of 2024 is predicted to be as topsy-turvy as this winter as the El Nino is not anticipated to resolve until fall of 2024. In my opinion, this means businesses as usual will not work anymore. We need to rewrite the rules of engagement to be flexible and rely on the blessing that technology possesses during the worse of these times.

SDOH and Internet for All

I know that technology is not a panacea, but carrier pigeons are out of style. Smart phones are portable, affordable, user friendly, and the most reliable option we have to remain connected when the weather pins us down. Studies on the impact of technology use on loneliness are compelling. The best news is most businesses have an online presence to bridge the gap.

Help is Here

If our national movement to extend broadband to rural communities succeed, we can make the SDOH permanently “drivers” not determinants of social care access issues. Until that day arrives, I propose the following actions:

Credit for Caring

Open Google Chrome, or another web browser, on your smart phone to use CreditforCaring.com to purchase your daily care, home safety and mobility products and equipment. We deliver to your door. Your purchases usually arrive within one to two days of ordering. In fact, we don’t limit ourselves to the items in our store. Use the Contact Us button and send a message if you do not find what you need, and we will help you get it.

Food and Meals

Sign-up for home delivered meals or grocery shopping home delivery services. The selection of online platforms can be overwhelming, so I recommend sticking starting with your most frequented store. Most online stores have item images, so it feels like a real shopping experience. Create an account and share the log-in credentials with your trusted caregiver to assist with the ordering process.

Insurance Care Navigators

Contact your health plan to set up a variety of online services. Most plans continue to offer telehealth, hospital at home, home health, and remote monitoring services to bridge the office visit gap that weather creates. In addition, set up your prescriptions for home-delivery. In fact, your favorite ‘drug store’ most likely has an online store where your over-the-counter drugs can be ordered as well.

Smart Phone Training

Today’s phones do so much. Ask for training when purchasing your device. Follow that up by watching YouTube videos to learn more about the features of the phone. It is important to keep your trusted family and friends contact entries up to date. The next step is to create a list of emergency contacts as a group “my helpers.” I recommend sending a text message to the group explaining this is your customized emergency help group.

Remember to keep the phone battery charged and the device within reach at all times. Most necklace based alert devices are forgotten in a drawer, but most phones remain active to view or share photos of family, friends, pets, and other topics of interest. In fact, encourage and assist seniors to use their phone to attend a faith service, join a group call, volunteer, and many other ways that keep you connected to the outside world during these weather events.

Stay Alert

Our current El Nino weather pattern is unpredictable and dangerous. Returning to normal times will not happen. We have a new normal where the seasons are no longer neat and tidy. Stay alert and stay safe.