Ocean County Seniors Urged to Prepare for Winter Weather

January 14, 2016

TOMS RIVER – With snowy weather and plunging temperatures affecting everyone, Ocean County leaders are urging the county’s 160,000 older adults to be especially prepared.

More than 1.6 million older Americans go to the emergency room each year for fall-related injuries. One major cause of a fall is ice and black ice. To lessen the chances of a fall, seniors should be cautious of the type of footwear used. The elderly should also have a simple handrail installed where needed to help them maintain balance.

Another concern for the elderly is hypothermia. All residents should keep their home’s thermostat at 68 degrees or above and dress in layers of loose fitting clothes. They should also keep their head covered while outdoors.

Residents are urged to check in on their elderly neighbors, as well as with family and friends, during the winter weather. “When the weather changes and temperatures plummet, we need to make sure everyone is properly cared for,” said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari.

Shore News Network

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.