Seniors who skip the trek to Florida, Arizona or other snowbird destinations, deciding to tough it out in cold climates, can keep themselves safe and comfortable by following a few simple steps, said Dr. Sharon Brangman, a member of the American Geriatrics Society and professor of medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.

• Stay indoors if it's brutally cold. That's especially good advice if it's windy and cold, which can make you feel colder.
• Assemble a winter wardrobe. That includes clothes you can layer, such as a sweater that goes over a long-sleeved T-shirt, a hat, gloves or mittens, boots that are flat with nonskid soles, a warm coat and a scarf. "Stay dry and go inside and change if clothes get wet," she said. "Also go inside if you start shivering."
• Know your body's response to cold may have changed. As metabolism decreases, older adults produce less body heat. So when you go outside in the cold, you can lose body heat quickly. If you have diabetes, there can be circulation changes in the hands and feet, making it more difficult to tolerate cold temperatures.