Summer Senior Safety Tips for Seniors
If you have a senior loved one in your life, you probably make a special effort to make sure they are extra safe during the winter months. Hot days can hold its challenges for everyone. Here are Summer Safety Tips, to keep everyone having fun in the sun to make sure we all enjoy a happy, healthy summer.
Summer Senior Safety Tip number one Stay Hydrated
Hydration is important for everyone during the summer, and especially as we get older. Hanging out in the sun, especially on the beach or when participating in summer activities, can dehydrate people fast. Be sure when you’re out and about in the heat that you are drinking water regularly and always have plenty on hand.
Be Sure to Always Use Sunscreen
Protecting your skin with a high SPF sunscreen can reduce the chances of melanoma and help prevent your skin from drying out, not to mention helping you ward off potentially agonizing sunburn later.
Be Careful With Too Much Exercise
Exercise is a good idea, especially for seniors, and committing to a regular exercise routine each week is crucial. But don’t let that commitment put your health in danger. If you are operating in extreme heat, it’s okay to reduce the time of that walk or even better, move your workout indoors to somewhere air conditioned.
Keep to Cool Areas When Possible
It’s certainly okay to spend some time outside even when it’s a bit warmer, but you should limit your time in the heat, and avoid extreme heat all together. Encourage your senior loved ones to stay inside with the air conditioning if it’s too hot out, even if it means deviating from their normal routine. If their home isn’t air conditioned, offer to drive them to someplace that is, like a mall or a movie theater, during the day. If you have a senior loved one who is living on their own, you may want to consider investing in Smart home temperature-control technology. There are systems that can alert you to the temperature in your loved one’s home and even allow you to adjust it remotely if it’s getting too hot.
Eye Care for Summer Senior Safe Outdoors
Sunglasses offer the best protection for your eyes. Take care of your eye and those of your loved ones. Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet the standard to block both UVA and UVB rays. Its good to make sure that your loved ones are wearing sunglasses with UV protection when they venture out into the summer sun.
Check Medications Regularly This Summer
Some medications that seniors take may actually be affected by extreme heat. Talk to the doctor about whether specific medications a senior is using may lose effectiveness in high temperatures, and what the best method for storing these medications might be.
Keep in Contact When the Temperatures Rise
On high-heat days, make an effort to check in with your senior loved one a couple of times a day to make sure that they are doing okay. In some situations, a senior may not realize that they are succumbing to extreme heat until it is already a danger. If your senior loved one is having trouble managing the seasons, there are many great living situations for seniors available where they can receive assistance, keeping them safe. If you’re looking for a housing arrangement for a senior in your life in the Portland Metro or Northern California area, Golden Placements can help. Contact us for more information on quality senior housing placements today.
Original Post on Aug 12, 2019 calledSummer Safety Tips: Taking Care of Senior Loved Ones in Hot Weather. This post has been recently updated as of June 2022. Resources: Read more from the Golden Girls Senior Placement Specialists: Find Care Facilities for Your Loved One
Here are some resources to help you learn more about Summer Fun and what we do for senior placement:
- Official Website for the State of Oregon offers resources and summer senior safety ideas during extreme heat
- Golden Placements Adult Services – COVID and Senior Facilities
Diane Delaney, Placement Specialist Extraordinaire
Delaney is the founder of Golden Placement Services. She began this business with a healthy dose of compassion for helping families make educated decisions regarding senior placement. Focused to relieve stress in uncertain senior housing crucial moments. For all those involved, Diane brings about loving change of lifestyle with grace. Beside being an accomplished executive manager, Director of Operations in senior housing she enjoys sharing her experience by writing about the full spectrum of the transition process for seniors and family members. Read more from Senior Placement Specialist Diane: Ultimate Senior Living Resource Guide >>
LaVona Tombrelin, Senior Placement Specialist
Tombrelin brings a high level of education and experience to you as your Senior Placement Specialist at GPS. She loves writing about improving the lives of Elderly working in private care and in-home care for over 36 years. Geriatrics, Memory Care. Plus holds Master of Psychology Behavioral Health with the goal of advocating for those who needed a voice. Helping the families to make good decisions and to relieve their stress in uncertain times makes life worthwhile.
Learn More: Read articles from Placement Specialist LaVona: End of Life Transition a heart felt Guide >>
