Elderly living in snowy climates (Sheridan, Jackson: how much, houses, neighborhood)

[Rhonda53]

My sisters and I were having a discussion about living in Wyoming , Montana , Colorado anyplace that has alot of snowfall and it piles up.
The discussion ended with a question about how do elderly people live in climates that have snow that piles up around their homes?
3 of us live in Florida, so we have no real ideas what that would be like for an elderly person. One of us lives in Md and she's 60 and she's out there shoveling her looong driveway when it snows 3 ins and she says its very hard and she don't know how much longer she can keep it up as she gets older.
we we thought: how do old people live in places that have waaay more snow than 3ins or 12 incs? How do they even walk out to get their mail, or take the garbage out to the street?
we've seen pics where the houses look like they're surrounded by 6-8 feet of snow?
We know all these old people don't just move to Florida. what are they doing? staying put indoors? what about doctor appts and what have you?
Our Mother is 87 and she is not hardly able to walk to the front door, much less shovel snow to get to the mailbox.

If you have elderly parents that live in these states or elsewhere, how do they cope? How do they function with daily life in the winter?

[sunsprit]

We've got a fair number of "elderly" folks that live quite well ... independently ... here in SE Wyoming.

Many of them are still very active, doing their farm and ranching routines, and do this despite a lot of aging issues ... well into their 90's.

I think the key to their happy survival is an attitude of keeping very active and pacing themselves to the level of activity they can do. Some just aren't going to quit ... I know one wonderful 92 year old who still puts up the hay on her farm ... last year, she cut a couple of sections and then baled the first few hundred thousand bales after her son hooked up the equipment and made it field ready. She's one of the best in the area for doing hay "right". Her son and daughter took over the balance of the haying and stacking when she finally needed to "take a nap" before heading back out to do more of it.

Of course, all of these folks depend upon a strong support system of family, friends, and neighbors for those chores that are bigger than they can handle ... snow removal so they can get out of the house, shopping trips to town, doctor visits, etc.

And all of us really depend upon our neighbors for "emergencies". For example, a younger neighbor of mine just had major cardiac surgery ... and their horses broke through one of their fences. His wife called us to help mend the fence ... she'd already gotten the horses back into a corral. I was able to head on over, mend the fence and re-string the wires in about two hours. No big deal, happy to help out. Similarly, with maybe only a few notable exceptions ... we all help each other with livestock, or "stuck vehicle" issues in bad weather ... or picking up stuff in town for those who cannot.

IMO, it's all a matter of how you want to spend your time as you age. In my sixties now, I'm running my ranch and farm, doing most of the chores and labor ... and still running a rep business with travel. Absent some incapacitating physical limitations, I see myself doing this for a long time for fun and profit ... already at an age when many are "retired".

I see folks with office jobs counting the days to "retirement" ... with no hobbies or interests to keep them physically and mentally alert. Unless they find something productive or entertaining to do with all that time on their hands, they'll be focused on simply getting old and frail ... and they're only in their 50's, days away from qualifying for some very good gov't defined benefit pensions.

BTW ... in my opinion ... even when it's howling outside with a ground blizzard ... it's still a "lovely day". You just have to be prepared to deal with it, toss another couple of logs in the woodstove, make sure the livestock is comfortable ... and have things and projects to do, even if the power goes out. That means doing stuff besides just sitting around and getting entertained by electronics ....

Certainly, there will be folks with illness or physical limitations that will keep them from doing this type of lifestyle ... and without a local support system, it's not going to work for them. Some simply need the care that an "assisted living" center provides. If that's the case, then that's what they'll have to do.

[Rhonda53]

Thanks sunsprit for your response. I'm the youngest of my sisters ( I'm 55) and my Husband and I both love WY, Montana, Colorado... mostly any state that has mountains we can see and snow.. now, we've only gone to 'play' in the snow on vacations to Wy, Colo & Montana.. Utah... so, I can't say I know what its like to LIVE 12/7 in places like that. But, my thought was : if people moved there they would adapt. My siblings are thinking it would be a hard adjustment to move from a warm climate to a cold snowy climate as we're aging. But I think we can do it. That's the reason for our ( my sisters and me) having this discussion. Thanks again for your response, I'm looking forward to any other points of view on this from others.

[wyoquilter]

I really couldn't tell you how well you could adapt to living in cooler climates after you have lived at least the majority of you life in warm climates. I know some older folks who have lived here all their lives who are finding it harder and harder each year they get older to handle the cold. Most of it is due to poor circulation that most people develop as they age. If you have good circulation and you stay active you have a better chance of adapting.

As far as the ones who do live here adapted or not, a lot either live in senior apts. or assited living facilities so they don't have to worry about shoveling snow. For thoe who don't live in the above mentioned they usually have friends, neighbors, family or hired help to help with shoveling, lawn mowing, and other projects that might be to difficult to do on their own.

As SunSprit pretty much said we take care of our own around here. I do not live out on a ranch like he does, I live in town. I happen to have two very lovely senior women both in their late 80's early 90's living on either side of me. The one can still get around pretty well, while the other one doesn't. I go out and shovel both of their sidewalks and driveways, while I'm out shoveling mine. Sometimes if the snow is not to much or to heavy the one will be out shoveling before me, but I still go and help her out so she doesn't have to do it all by herself. Sometimes one of her sons will come in from out of town and help get her shoveled out and will help me get shoveled out. During the summer her sons will come and mow her lawn. The other gal hires her lawn mowing. I've offered to do it for her, but she refuses saying I've got so much other things to do besides worrying about her lawn. She is from Spain and very bull headed somtimes. She gets mad at me for shoveling her sidewalk and driveway as it is. (in a loving way of course) She is always coming out telling me not to worry about it and that I'm going to hurt myself and to stop and come in and have tea instead.

As far as getting around in the winter like to the store, or a doctors appt., a lot of towns (especially ones with a population of 10,000-15,000) have a senior bus that will come and pick you up and take you where ever you need to go. I know here in Sheridan, the senior bus will even take you to Billings, MT if you have a doctors appointment up there. BTW: the senior bus here in Sheridan is not just used by seniors. They will pick up people of all ages, even children. Again as Sunsprit said, if you live out of town or can't get a senior bus, then usually there is a neighbor, friend or relative that will be glad to either take you or bring you things.

[frogandtoad]

Certain things are harder for sure. It's more likely you'll slip on your sidewalk if it's covered than ice than if it's not. To some degree you have to stay inside more as a 90 year probably isnt' going for his hour long walk if it snowed 2 feet overnight. They would need to hire someone to clear their driveway and sidewalk at some point. It has its challenges.

But the most important thing, imo, is to live where you have close friends and/or family. That will keep you happy, which will keep you healthy.

I wouldn't move to a snowy climate at 80, with no friends there, but if I already lived there and had good friends and enjoyed my life, I would make the necessary adjustments and stay.

[StealthRabbit]

For CO and WY (and 1/2 of MT) there are not that many towns that have snow piled around all winter (as in back east, like NY, PA, OH, IL, MN, WI).

In fact, many areas have more dry days that snowy.
But with the apprehension from family you noted + the great advice above (having a support network) be cautious and try to find the best options.

I doubt if you are gonna be moving out to the country, so a town with adequate services (medical / colleges / entertainment / senior care... aging in place or NORC) and in proximity to your desires (airport / culture) would narrow your choices.
I would make a list of your priorities and start checking areas.

Wyoming is a stretch for a newcomer at a late age, but the people are terrific, so don't let that stop you. Just realize you may not want to listen to your relatives complain about the wind for the next 50 yrs. Wyoming may be nicer to visit than to live (while you have older relatives to care for). Same as Estes Park, CO. It can be very beautiful, but miserable at times in the winter (Wind + Cold). or... you can live a 30 minutes away and enjoy it on any of the 300 pleasant days.

I would give serious thought and investigation to towns in Colo; Loveland, Lyons, and Colo Springs for starters. I prefer Loveland, as it is closer to WY (1hr), has very nice senior services, and is in a bit of a storm shadow (Banana Belt). I have a 93 yr old friend there who has done over 1,000 walks around the lake (~4 miles). It is only 10 mi to Ft Collins for any special thing you might need there.

You may have to have driveway shoveled a couple times / year, but often it snows and is gone the next day (or it blows away, or warm Chinook wind melts it in the night).

You can also get housing where all the weather stuff is taken care of for you. The sunny days keep the house pleasant. I would be sure to get a place with big windows and southern exposure and driveway facing south (melts faster). Much of the terrain is flat (apart from the Mtns...) so ez to get around.

[Rhonda53]

Thank you Wyoquilter, Frogandtoad & Janb for your responses. I appreciate your input, wisdom and sharing of your experiences . This helps us ( me & my husband ) see the bigger picture of what to consider and evaluate limitations for us. Its just what I was hoping for. Thanks again folks!

[WyoNewk]

Aside from Jackson Hole or a few other mountain towns, snow doesn't build up much at all. It seems like we get a big storm, then about the day all the snow piles have melted, we get another storm, and the cycle continues. Spring snows melt faster but come more often.

I'm in NE Wyoming. We had a big blizzard last week with around 18 inches of snow. Businesses and schools were closed for two days. This week we had another snow storm -- about 4 inches. Those were about the biggest snows we've had this year; in fact, the 18-inch snow storms probably only come once every year or two.

I don't believe my neighbor has shoveled her drive yet this year. She parks her 4x4 in the garage or in the driveway and simply plows through the drifts if there are any. She works a full-time job on a regular schedule, so it's not that she just waits for the snow to melt -- she just drives through it.

As for the walks in front of our home, we have neighbor guys who enjoy getting behind their snow blowers or hopping on their little ATVs with blades and cleaning up the sidewalks in the whole neighborhood. I usually have mine shoveled before they get to it, but if not, one of them cleans it within 24 hours or so. (I'm sometimes one of those guys, but my snow blower needs a tune-up right now.)

The city does a pretty good job with street cleaning. Like most people around here, I have a 4x4 that will get through most of what Mother Nature offers, but if we really get dumped on, like last week, the city asks that everyone stay off the streets except in emergencies so they can get them cleaned without stuck vehicles in the way. I think the streets in our residential neighborhood were cleared about 24 hours after the storm ended.

It's not too difficult to live through Wyoming's winters if you're not required to be outdoors for your job, not if you live in town.

If I was unable to shovel my own snow, there are those happy to remove it for pay -- either adults with snowblowers or neighborhood kids with shovels.

Me? I'm ready to start spending winters with the rest of the snowbirds. I used to love skiing and other winter sports. Now I just want to stay warm!

[jdavid93225]

I moved to a mountain climate about 16 years ago from the temperate L.A. Basin. When I did so, I was still fairly young (~25), so it wasn't too difficult to adapt at that time, but I see many similarities to the question being asked here. I am not currently living in Wyoming, though, so my perspective may be a little bit skewed.

As for getting out for mail or trash, that would depend on where you live. If you're in a rural area and your mailbox is a mile away, and your trash has to go to the dump, chances are it can wait for the weather to improve. If those services are just outside your front door, because you live "in town" it's a different matter.

I currently commute out of my area for work, so I have to deal with the snow when we get it. Only occasionally do I call in for a snow day. Many older folks are retired, or work at home, so this may not be as much of an issue for them. I drive a 4wd truck when the weather gets bad, and I've found that it gets me around quite well. If the weather is too bad for me to drive my truck, or the highway is closed, that's when I stay home.

I have given a lot of thought to how I would handle things after I retire and am living in Wyoming full time. First, I would keep my pantry and freezer well stocked, so getting out would not be a necessity.

Second, I also plan to have backup power for those times when the lines go down, but that may never become a reality if prices don't come down a bit more. If not, I will still have some sort of wood heating in my home so I am not dependent upon electricity or propane.

Third, I am hopeful that I would still be able to drive, because that is part of my plan for when I retire. I plan to have a pull through garage where I would park my inclement weather vehicle (4x4 truck or tractor w/plow). That way, I could pull that vehicle out to drive it, or to clear the snow off my roadways so I can drive out when I need to do so. It has already been stated that in many areas, the snow does not stick around for a long time. This is the case where I plan to retire, and is one of the reasons I selected that area for retirement. If I did need to get out in an emergency, it would be very seldom that I wouldn't be able to.

Fourth, I plan to have hobbies and interests that I can do indoors if the weather prevents me from going out. I enjoy shooting, and reloading is an activity that is closely related that I also enjoy. If I am unable to get out to shoot, I could stay home and reload some ammo to prepare for my next shooting opportunity. I also enjoy model railroading, and plan to continue pursuing this hobby into my old age, so that is something else I can do indoors.

Finally, as stated earlier, I plan to have a network of friends and family nearby, to lend support to one another as needed. If this means that I have to plow half a dozen long driveways and a couple streets, or feed a few animals once in a while, that's okay.

[Rhonda53]

Thank you WyoNewk and jdavid93225 for ya'll responses.
I'm wondering if there are others out there that have done just what we're comtemplating, meaning moving to one the great 'west'ern states ( Wyo, Mt, Utah, Colo...) in a late age and how they are adjusting. What problems they encountered. What they did or didnt plan on. If they have any regrets about their move. We want to hear more from anyone out there . We don't want to move but one more time. We greatly want to experience more seasons and see those great Mountains out our windows before we die. Its been a longing for us for a long long time. Now, comes a point in our lives where we can actually choose a different place to live if we want to. We only have one child, a son... and he's wanting to move to Utah, and I'm encouraging him to go for it. He's 37 and not married yet. Thanks everyone ya'll've been most kind in your responses. This Florida girl greatly appreciates any insight or information you offer.