In-home Care Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

Visiting Angels in-home care can keep Gilford, NH seniors safe this summer

As summer approaches, temperatures rise. While many families are out enjoying the sunlight, it is essential to remember to check on senior family members and their health. These activities are undoubtedly appropriate for senior loved ones but staying cool should be a concern. Seniors are more sensitive to heat and have difficulty controlling their body temperature. As a result, they are more prone to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Take precautions this summer to protect yourself and your senior from the heat. Plan your day so that you are not spending lengthy periods outdoors during the warmest part of the day and have a cool place to unwind and rehydrate. Here are some pointers to keep your senior safe this summer:

Maintain Your Cool

When paying a visit to a loved one, ensure that their air conditioning is operational – and running – so that their house remains at a suitable temperature. A spring tune-up helps guarantee that everything is in working order. Ceiling fans or small portable fans might be helpful on days when it is still warm but not dangerously so.

Keep Hydrated

Have plenty of water on hand whether you're at home or on the move. Dehydration may strike without warning. Throughout the day, drink water or other light liquids. Enhance the taste of your water by adding fresh fruit or cucumber slices.

Avoid Peak Times

The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so minimize your exposure or make sure you have lots of shaded or cool places to rest. Get out early in the morning or later when the sun is lower in the sky, and it isn't as hot. If you and your senior are out throughout the day, take frequent pauses and drink lots of water.

Appropriate attire

Going outdoors in the summer requires hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Your elderly parent may also wish to dress in light, breathable materials to keep cool while covering exposed skin. Seniors should reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Regularly check-in

Check-in frequently if your senior lives alone, particularly as the weather warms. If you don't live nearby, ask a neighbor or a close friend to come by and check on your loved one. Check if their house is cool, that they have enough food and drink, and that they are acting normally.

How Can Visiting Angels Assist?

Another excellent alternative is to schedule in-home care from Visiting Angels of Gilford, NH. Arranging in-home care will give you peace of mind knowing that someone is there to help your senior with different activities during the week, check in on them, and notify you of any possible difficulties. A caregiver may accompany your elder on errands or walks outdoors, remind them to drink water, regulate the temperature of their house, and ensure they are suitably clothed. They will also have someone to keep them company and assist them with everyday duties.

Summer heat may be challenging for seniors to bear. While they are at home or conducting errands, an in-home caregiver from Visiting Angels can offer company and a pair of helpful hands. You may rest easier knowing that they are getting the assistance they need to age in place securely and pleasantly.