Keeping Your Loved One Safe This Summer
Summer is practically here and with summer comes certain dangers, especially for your elderly loved one. Most areas of the country can see extreme heat and if your loved one isn’t prepared for it, it can cause them great harm. The elderly are much more likely to suffer from heat-related illnesses than any other age, except perhaps newborns. That’s because their bodies are less efficient at maintaining a healthy body temperature due to a reduction in sweating as they get older, thus reducing the body’s ability to stay cool in hot temps. Helping your loved one stay safe during the hot summer months is easier when you, your loved one’s personal care at home provider, and any other family members know some important safety tips.
These tips will help your loved one stay comfortable this summer and reduce the risk of heat stroke.
Stay indoors during extreme heat
When the temperatures soar, your loved one should strive to stay indoors. It can be difficult to miss out on those fun summer activities but temperatures in the 90s and above can easily harm your loved one. And don’t just check the temperature, also look at the “feels like” temperature when humidity is in the air.
Stay hydrated
Many elderly don’t feel thirst as strongly as when they were younger so they often forget to drink. Having a personal care at home provider prompt your loved one to stay hydrated will keep their body in better shape to handle the hot temps. Even if they’re not especially active, your loved one should strive to drink 8 glasses of water a day.
Dress appropriately
When your loved one needs to go out in the hot temps, make sure they’re dressed appropriately. This is something their personal care at home aide could assist them with. Your loved one should wear loose-fitting and lightweight clothes in natural, breathable fabrics like cotton. If they’re going to be out in direct sunlight, they should dress in light colors that will reflect the sun and heat instead of darker colors that attract the heat and sun.
Enjoy air conditioning
When both temperatures and humidity rise, it’s important to enjoy air conditioning to keep the body from overheating. If your loved one doesn’t have air conditioning in their home, have their personal care at home provider bring them to the mall, a grocery store, or even a movie to find areas to cool off. Once home, they should stay in the lowest part of the home where the temperatures are lower.
Know the signs of heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion
This is important not only for your loved one but for anyone checking in on them during the summer. Their personal care at home attendant will be aware of these symptoms, but for your loved one, make sure they know as well in case they come on when no one else is around. If that is the case, they should pick up the phone and call for help quickly. The symptoms include dry skin, extreme tiredness, headache, nausea, flushed face, high body temperature, rapid pulse, dizziness, and confusion.
Knowing these tips can help you keep your loved one safe even when the temperatures soar.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care at Home Services in the Kansas City MO area, please contact the caring staff at Elder Care of Kansas City, today. Proudly serving Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in Missouri as well as Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas for over 30 years. Call us at 816-333-3322
Prior to purchasing Elder Care, Kevin spent over 20 years in the health insurance industry.In his most recent position, he was in a financial operations role with Humana where he worked with doctors, nurses and other health professionals developing programs to keep Humana members healthy.Their focus on primary care and medication adherence improved the lives of thousands of seniors in Kansas City and the surrounding area.
Kevin and his wife, Lori, have three children.Kevin has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.
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