If you grew up around here, you know what’s coming: a few months of snow, ice, gray days, and at least one week where the wind chill goes well below zero. For most of us, that’s an inconvenience. For an older parent living alone, winter is when small risks become big ones: a fall on an icy driveway, a furnace that quits overnight, a heating bill they quietly can’t afford.
Here’s how to get your parent ready before the first big storm, and who to call in the Northwest Suburbs when they need help.
Falls on ice and snow
Falls are the biggest winter danger for older adults, and many happen in the few steps between the front door and the car or mailbox.
- Line up snow removal before the first storm. Shoveling is hard on the heart, and older adults shouldn’t be doing heavy shoveling. Many townships and villages in the area run senior snow removal programs or keep lists of volunteers and teens for hire. Call your parent’s township (see our community guides) and ask what’s available.
- Stock ice melt in a bucket by the door, with a scoop, so your parent doesn’t have to carry a heavy bag.
- Add outdoor lighting at entry doors and along the driveway. Motion lights are cheap and easy to install.
- Check railings on outdoor steps. Both sides is best.
- Get good boots with non-slip soles, or slip-on ice cleats for shoes.
- Move the mailbox routine. If the mailbox is at the end of a long driveway, ask the post office about options, or have a neighbor grab mail on bad days.
Indoors, winter means wet floors at entry doors. Put down a rubber-backed mat and a chair for taking boots off. See our Aging in Place guide and Home Safety topic page for more.
If your parent lives alone, a medical alert system matters more in winter, when a fall outside can quickly become dangerous in the cold.
Staying warm without a dangerous bill
Older adults lose body heat faster and may not notice they’re getting too cold. Hypothermia can happen indoors in a house kept too cool.
- Keep the thermostat at a safe level. Many experts recommend at least 68°F for older adults. If you notice the house is cold, ask whether it’s about the bill.
- Have the furnace serviced before winter, and replace the filter.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. CO detectors are required in Illinois homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages. Replace batteries now.
- Space heaters: If your parent uses one, it should have automatic shutoff, sit at least three feet from anything that can burn, and plug directly into the wall, not an extension cord.
- Seal drafts with weatherstripping and door sweeps. Many local hardware stores sell inexpensive kits.
Help paying for heat
If money is tight, there’s real help available.
- LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): Helps eligible households pay heating bills. In suburban Cook County, applications go through the local community action agency. See our LIHEAP heating help guide for income limits and where to apply.
- Utility payment plans and discounts: ComEd, Nicor Gas, and other utilities offer payment plans, and some offer low-income discounts. Call the number on the bill.
- Illinois’ winter shutoff protections: From December 1 through March 31, Illinois’ Winter Weather Rule limits disconnections. Residential customers can’t be disconnected for nonpayment on days when the forecast is 32°F or below, or before weekends and holidays when freezing temperatures are forecast. People enrolled in LIHEAP and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) are protected from disconnection for falling behind during the winter season. For questions or complaints, call the Illinois Commerce Commission at 1-800-524-0795.
Power outages
Winter storms can knock out power for hours or days. That’s a bigger problem if your parent uses oxygen, a CPAP, a powered lift chair, or medication that needs refrigeration.
- Build a small outage kit: flashlights (not candles), extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, blankets, and a phone charger battery pack.
- Register with the utility if your parent uses life-support or medical equipment. Ask ComEd about its medical certification program, which can flag a household for priority contact.
- Have a plan to leave. Where would your parent go if the heat is out for long? A family member’s home, a friend nearby, or a local warming center.
- Never use a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors or in an attached garage. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real winter risk.
During cold emergencies, many townships and villages open warming centers, often in libraries, senior centers, and village halls. Check your parent’s township or village website, or call 211.
Driving in winter
- Get the car winter-ready: tires, battery, wipers, and washer fluid.
- Keep an emergency kit in the trunk: blanket, ice scraper, small shovel, phone charger, water, and snacks.
- Encourage your parent to skip driving in bad weather and after dark. Line up backup rides for appointments.
- Keep the gas tank at least half full.
If winter driving is getting hard, it’s a good time to look at alternatives. Pace offers paratransit and dial-a-ride options, and townships often run senior transportation. See our Pace and transit guide for seniors.
Health in the cold months
- Flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines: Ask your parent’s doctor which are recommended this season. Most are covered by Medicare.
- Stock up on medications before a storm so they don’t run out if roads are bad. Ask about 90-day refills.
- Keep easy food on hand: canned soup, shelf-stable milk, and frozen meals in case they can’t get out for a few days.
- Watch for winter blues. Shorter days and less time outside can bring on loneliness and depression. Regular calls, visits, and rides to church, the senior center, or the library help a lot.
A daily check-in plan
The simplest winter safety step: make sure someone hears from your parent every day.
- A quick morning call or text from you or a sibling
- A neighbor who looks for lights on or the blinds open
- A daily check-in call program. Some townships and senior centers run these. Ask AgeOptions (708-383-0258) what’s available near your parent.
- A medical alert system with fall detection, if your parent lives alone
Who to call in the Northwest Suburbs
- Your parent’s township or village: senior services, snow removal programs, transportation, and warming centers. See our community guides.
- AgeOptions (suburban Cook County): 708-383-0258, for in-home help, meal programs, and check-in services.
- Illinois Commerce Commission (utility shutoff questions): 1-800-524-0795.
- 211: Call 211 for local warming centers and emergency help.
- Emergencies: 911.
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Program details and phone numbers last verified October 2026; confirm current details directly with each agency before relying on them.
Editorial Review Status
Reviewed for: Winter safety guidance for older adults, Illinois Winter Weather Rule shutoff protections, LIHEAP and utility assistance programs, and local Northwest Suburbs senior resources.
Elder care regulations, costs, and local provider availability change frequently. We commit to regular audits to ensure Gen X families have the most accurate data for the NW Chicago suburbs.
Disclaimer: This guide is educational only and is not legal, financial, medical, or tax advice. Confirm details with a qualified professional before making decisions.
FAQ
What temperature is too cold for an older adult’s home?
Many health experts recommend keeping the home at 68°F or warmer for older adults. Even mildly cool temperatures can be risky for people with certain health conditions or medications.
Can the utility shut off my parent’s heat in winter?
Illinois limits winter disconnections from December 1 through March 31. Residential customers can’t be disconnected for nonpayment when the forecast is 32°F or below, and LIHEAP and PIPP participants have extra protection. Call the utility to set up a payment plan, and contact the Illinois Commerce Commission at 1-800-524-0795 with questions.
Who shovels for seniors who can’t do it themselves?
Many townships and villages in the Northwest Suburbs run senior snow removal programs or keep volunteer lists. Availability varies, and some fill up early, so call before the first storm.
Should my parent still drive in winter?
That depends on their health and comfort. Many older drivers choose to avoid driving in snow, ice, and darkness. Have backup rides lined up through family, Pace paratransit, or township transportation.
Where can my parent go if the power goes out?
Many local libraries, senior centers, and village halls open as warming centers during extreme cold or outages. Check the village or township website, or call 211.
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Program details and phone numbers last verified October 2026.