Elderly people in Estonia require increased help from caregivers during the harsh winter due to heightened needs for heating and additional assistance.
In Estonia's cold winter months, caregivers are facing significantly increased demands as elderly individuals require more assistance with tasks such as bringing firewood indoors for heating. The extremely low temperatures have led to an influx of those needing aid, with some elderly residents finding their living conditions uninhabitable due to the cold, prompting relocation to municipal social houses for better support and warmth.
This week, temperatures in southeastern Estonia dropped to nearly minus 30 degrees Celsius, emphasizing the urgency of heating needs among the elderly. For instance, Koidu Morjakova, an 81-year-old resident from the Võru municipality, described the daily challenges involved in heating her home. She explained her routine of lighting the stove several times a day while facing the difficulty of transporting firewood, which is crucial yet physically demanding at her age.
The article underscores the broader implications of such weather conditions on the elderly population, highlighting the strain on both caregivers who are stretched thin and the governmental systems that must accommodate the rising number of people in need. With many elderly individuals unable to cope with severe weather on their own, the community calls for enhanced support mechanisms to ensure their well-being during harsh winters.
