Summer safety tips for seniors: How to help older adults stay healthy when it is hot outside?

Pleasant weather is all that is needed to make the most of the day. But the dramatic summers can be a bit annoying for your elderly. As, our ability to cope with the effects of hot temperature, high humidity and the hot sun goes down as we age. Especially if your elderly is bedridden, then all that sweat adds to skin problems and irritation. When you are not available for your elderly, to help them during this season because of the busy errands that you must run throughout the day, having a nurse at home will make you at ease. You then rest assured that your nursing caretaker is available to play your role. 

During this sweaty and warm climate make sure to keep your elderly always hydrated when you are around and even when you are not. They may not even know how heat is affecting them. As, the ability to sweat decreases with age. 

So, their loved ones or nursing caretakers need to not only remind them to drink water but bring it to them during heat waves. 

  • Especially elderly who are suffering from dementia are highly prone to dehydration as their brain may keep them from being able to communicate their distress. 
  • Fresh juices (like orange, watermelon, apple etc.), smoothies, water, milk, tea/ coffee once in a while, kaadha for immunity booster etc., can be given as per the need and requirement. 
  • Avoid drinks to dehydration like alcohol or caffeinated drinks. 
  • Ask your nurse at home to sponge, shower, or bathe them on a regular basis, especially during summers. 
  • Make sure to keep their rooms always ventilated. 
  • Schedule their walks either early in the morning or at the later parts of the day.
  • Comfort is the utmost thing one must keep in mind. 
  • It starts from the atmosphere around you to the clothes that your elderly wear around throughout the day during their hottest times. 
  • Make sure that you or your nursing caretaker ensures to change our elderly’s clothes regularly and let them wear light-coloured loose clothes. 
  • Try to keep the house as cool as possible. 
  • Close the windows and blinds during the day, then open the windows in the evening when the temperature cools down sufficiently. 
  • AC is important for older adults with respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because heat and humidity can aggravate their breathing. 
  • Keep all their medications up-to-date and safely stored.
  • Avoid any heat exposure during the daytime. 
  • Summers reduces one’s appetite. Light meals are good, but it is important to get in those nutrients, especially since senior citizens are prone to a lack of nutrients and essential vitamins. 
  • Make sure to give them plenty of fresh fruits and salads which will, in turn, keep their body’s water level intact. 
  • Avoid any activities that may cause heat exhaustion among your elderly. 

Last but not least ensure that you spend at least an hour with your elderly, removing that one hour from your daily busy errands is extremely crucial towards the mental health and happiness of your elderly. Also, hiring a professional from elderly care services can help you when you cannot manage time out of your daily chores for your elderly.