With summer just around the corner, it’s essential to watch your senior loved one extra closely in the retirement community. Seniors are more sensitive to hot weather and at greater risk of heat stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older people may have a chronic disease or take medicine that prevents the body from regulating its temperature.
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Here are six summer safety tips for seniors:
1. Be aware of your loved one’s medications.
Certain medications, such as tetracyclines, sulfur compounds, and thiazide diuretics, can cause seniors to get sunburned more easily. Before the temperatures get too hot, AgingCare.com recommends asking your loved one’s healthcare provider if it is OK for your senior family member to be out in the sun. Wear plenty of sunscreen and protective clothing if your loved one goes outside.
2. Monitor your family member’s water intake.
When the temperatures are scorching hot, ensure your senior family member drinks plenty of water throughout the day. Since they can’t conserve water, as can younger people, they may become dehydrated quickly. Have your family member drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
“Certain medications can cause seniors to get sunburned easier.”
3. Don’t forget about sunglasses.
Since vision loss is quite common among older people, you should always remind your family members to wear sunglasses before they head out the door. A pair of sunglasses will protect your loved one’s eyes from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
4. Cool your loved one down with wet washcloths.
If your senior family member looks overheated, cool them down with a wet washcloth. Apply the washcloth to the wrists, underarms, ankles, and neck. This will reduce your loved one’s body temperature and help them feel better.
5. Limit alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks, like coffee and soda, can dehydrate the body, so your senior loved one should limit these beverages as much as possible. Add a lemon or lime if your family member gets bored with drinking water.
6. Exercise in the morning or evening.
Regular physical activity is beneficial for a senior’s physical and emotional well-being. However, it can be dangerous if your family member exercises outdoors when the sun is hot. Offer to exercise with your loved one in the early morning or evening.
