10 Summer Safety Tips For Seniors
Home care assistance from Visiting Angels can help your senior loved one enjoy summer activities in Woodbridge, CT, while staying safe
While most seniors particularly love the summer months, it is important to keep in mind that older adults are more prone to developing various summer-related health conditions. To keep your loved one happy and safe this summer, our home care assistance experts have compiled the following tips on how seniors can prepare for the hot days ahead.
1. Keep the Windows Open
As it is not uncommon for seniors to lose temperature sensation, many older adults often feel cold in the hot weather. To allow for the circulation of fresh air and keep a safe temperature in your loved one's home, keep the windows open.
2. Keep Vehicles Cool
When your loved one is traveling by car, it is important for the temperature in the vehicle to be pleasant. In addition to turning on the A/C, if you need to go outside the vehicle, leave the car windows open for your parent.
3. Minimize Sun Exposure
Your loved one should avoid leaving the home during the sun's peak hours, between 10 am and 4 pm. If they need to go out during these hours, home care assistance experts recommend wearing light, loose-fitting clothes, sunglasses, and a hat.
4. Drink Lots of Water
Staying well hydrated during the summer is paramount for seniors as they may lose fluids faster than younger adults. Your parent should carry a water bottle with them whenever they are going outdoors and take in at least eight glasses of water a day.
5. Avoid Physically Demanding Activities
Even if your loved one is healthy and feels well, they should avoid engaging in physically demanding house activities during the summer. Family members can assist with daily tasks or you can hire a home care assistance provider to take care of household activities.
6. Engage in Appropriate Summer Activities
For your loved one to enjoy the summer, they should remain active but only through senior-friendly, summer-appropriate activities, like swimming or water aerobics. They can also participate in events organized by the local community or senior center as long as the rooms are air-conditioned and safe for older adults.
7. Watch Out for Medication Side Effects
There are some prescription medications that can cause side effects in users who spend plenty of time in the sun. To prevent this from happening, your loved one should talk to their medical team and make sure to follow their instructions and guidelines at all times.
8. Wear Sunscreen and Bug Repellent
Home care assistance experts advise seniors to apply plenty of sunscreen before going out and reapply it after two hours spend outdoors. To keep bugs away, your loved one should also wear quality bug repellent.
9. Implement a Buddy System
To make certain your loved one is safe at all times, your family or your loved one’s caregiver may want to establish a buddy system where each of you would check up on them on a daily basis. This is especially important for seniors with health problems and chronic conditions.
10. Know the Signs Of Heat Exhaustion
The most common early signs of heat exhaustion include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and headaches. If your parent starts showing one or more of these signs, keep them hydrated, move them to a safe, cool place, and contact emergency services.
Visiting Angels of Woodbridge, CT, is a leading provider of non-medical in home care services for seniors. Our office serves New Haven County, Fairfield County, Westchester County and all five boroughs of New York City, NY. To learn more about the in-home living assistance services provided by our staff of compassionate caregivers, please call our Newington office at (203) 397-6890 or contact us for more information.