Tips to Keep Seniors Safe in Hot Summer Weather and How Home Care Can Help

We’ve waited for it all winter long with bated breath – the warm, sunny days of summer! But now that summer’s in full swing, there are days when we long, even if just briefly, for a blast of that chilly air to provide some relief from the rising temperatures. For seniors in particular, the heat and humidity can be especially dangerous. In fact, the majority of heat-related deaths that occur in the U.S. each year are to those older than age 50.

Help your senior loved ones safely enjoy the summer with these tips from the Illinois home care experts at Home & Hearth Caregivers:

• Seek out shade. Seniors should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun when the temperature reaches 90 degrees or above, choosing a shady spot or only venturing outside in the early morning or in the early evening when the sun begins to set.
• Wear sunscreen. Whether in the shade or the sun, seniors should always cover exposed skin with a layer of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which blocks both UVB and UVA rays.
• Keep drinking. Even if a senior doesn’t feel thirsty, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages, such as plain water and clear fruit juice.
• Dress accordingly. Large-brimmed hats and light colors, to reflect the sun rather than absorb it, will keep seniors most comfortable when outdoors in warmer weather.
• Stay cool. After spending time outdoors in the summer, resting in an air-conditioned environment, taking a tepid bath or shower, or even placing cool, damp cloths over the ankles, wrists and neck will help seniors cool down comfortably and safely.
• Find a home care provider. Professional in-home caregivers, like those at Home & Hearth Caregivers, are adept at keeping seniors safe and comfortable all year long, in a variety of ways. Caregivers can:
  • Keep seniors socially involved and engaged, even while staying in the comfort of home.
  • Run errands, take care of grocery shopping, pick up prescriptions and more, allowing seniors to avoid the need to go out when the weather becomes dangerously hot.
  • Ensure that seniors are staying hydrated, and keep an eye out for any warning signs of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and other serious heat-related conditions.

For more tips on keeping your senior loved ones safe this summer, or to enlist the assistance of one of our cheerful home care companions, call Home & Hearth Caregivers at 800-349-0663. We provide a full range of home care services for seniors throughout Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will and the surrounding counties, and would love the opportunity to meet your family, provide a free in-home assessment, and get started on enhancing quality of life and wellbeing for your senior loved one!