Summertime is when many elderly people end up in the hospital. Many people don’t think about this. They think the time to worry about elderly people going to the hospital is during the winter when the flu is active. However, elderly people need to be careful in the summer, as well. There are far too many elderly people who are suffering from heat stroke or other heat-related issues. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, try these tips to help them stay safe this summer.
Don’t Stay Outside Much During Hotter Times in the Day
It is very important for elderly people not to spend too much time outside during the hotter times in the day. During the hours of 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., the sun is at its hottest. This can lead to excessive sweating and overheating. If your elderly loved one spends too much time outdoors during these hours, they have a higher chance of getting heat-related illnesses. If they do need to be outside during these times, make sure they find shade when possible and stay very hydrated. If there is something they need to do that you or a senior care provider can do instead, that is best. The heat doesn’t affect younger adults as much as elderly people.
Covering Up the Skin
When your elderly loved one goes outdoors this summer, remind them to cover up their skin. The more your elderly loved one’s skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, the higher their risk will be for getting sunburns and skin cancer. You should encourage your elderly loved one to put sunscreen on their entire body whenever they will be outdoors for more than a few minutes. If they are just going to get their mail and coming back inside, this isn’t necessary. However, if they will be outside for 5 to 10 minutes or more, it is recommended to use sunscreen. You or a senior care provider may need to help them apply sunscreen to harder-to-reach areas.
Conclusion
It is important that your elderly loved one stays safe this summer. The weather can get extremely hot. Even if your elderly loved one doesn’t live in an area where the weather is very hot, the sun still shines down. They can still get sunburnt or develop skin cancer. Heatstroke is still a possibility.
Knowing these tips, you can help to keep your elderly loved one cool this summer. If you think your elderly loved one is going to forget to do these things, you or a senior care provider may want to go visit them daily during the summer. This way, you can ensure they have sunscreen on and are staying hydrated and cool this summer.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-weather-safety-older-adults
