Seniors Bracing For the Cold

It’s not just the general public that's prepping for the snow.

Senior citizens are the most at risk age category when it comes to the extreme cold.

The Ouachita Council on Aging spent most of the day Wednesday getting the elderly ready to face the cold.

Anytime snow visits the Ark-La-Miss everyone gets excited about seeing something we rarely get around here, but for seniors, snowy conditions can be a nightmare.

The Council on Aging is prepping seniors so the white stuff isn't so scary.

Public transportation driver Eric Cleveland is picking up a group of patients at the Northeast Louisiana Dialysis Center.

"Getting ready to go home? I heard that, that's always exciting huh?" Cleveland asked a patient as she was loading a van.

Seventy-Six-year-old Roberta Nickerson says she's anxious to get home out of the cold after her dialysis Wednesday.

And she says that's where she'll stay when the snow comes in; wrapped in her blankets with the heat running on high.

"I don't go out when it's cold, only reason why I’m out now is because I have to go to dialysis and that's it,” said Nickerson.

"Thursday the National Weather Service says 70 percent snow is likely,” Lynda McGehee told the seniors at the Ouachita Council on Aging.

Lynda McGehee is executive director of the Ouachita Council on Aging.

During their Wednesday lunch, McGehee was warning seniors to get all business done outside no later than noon Thursday and stay inside where it's warm.

"They need to get to the grocery store and get supplies for those two days that we might be in,” said McGehee.

Senior Dave Walters says he's already making plans for the cold.

He says Wednesday evening; he'll bring in the firewood.

"It’s all stacked up ready to go, we'll go get it before it gets real wet,” said Walters.

McGehee says one thing many seniors forget about is wearing several layers to stay warm instead of just one heavy jacket.

"But if they do go outside, make sure they have gloves and something on their head,” said McGehee.

She says if you know a senior citizen, go ahead and check up on them so that no one goes cold.

The Ouachita Council on Aging says the center will be closed on Friday because of the forecasted snow.

The West Ouachita Senior Center says they only close if area schools are closed.

And of course, you can stay tuned to NBC 10 News for the latest news on closures.