Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses in Your Senior

As the weather heats up, so does the possibility of heat-related illnesses. These are illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, both of which your elderly family member is more susceptible to. Here are some tips that you and their senior care aide can do to prevent this.

Help Her to Remember to Stay Hydrated

Senior Care Live Oak FL - Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses in Your Senior
Senior Care Live Oak FL – Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses in Your Senior

Hydration is a key part of avoiding heat-related illnesses. The big problem is that your elderly family member may not remember to sip water all day. She also might not care for plain water, which is her best bet for staying hydrated. Keep a water bottle handy for her and try a few other options, too. Hydrating foods, like melons and berries, can be good options. Herbal teas are also a good idea, especially if you avoid sweetening them.

Make it a Habit to Look up the Heat Index

In winter, there’s something called the wind chill which describes how cold it actually feels outside. There’s a similar calculation for summer, called the heat index. Any app or weather readout will include not just the expected temperature for the day but also the heat index. It’s much better to have an idea how hot it’s going to actually feel so that you can help your elderly family member to prepare appropriately.

Put Together a Hot Weather Wardrobe

The right clothes can make all the difference for your senior. Choose lightweight fabrics that are also light in color. That’s going to help to reflect heat and also let air circulate. If she’s going to be outside, long-sleeved shirts and pants that are lightweight can help to protect her skin. Your elderly family member might not recognize when she’s too hot, so it’s important to try to keep tabs on that for her.

Stick to Appropriate Times for More Vigorous Activity and Consider Hiring Senior Care

When your elderly family member wants to do outside activities or even strenuous activities inside, it truly matters when she does so. Earlier in the day and later in the evening are bound to be coolest, so it makes sense to save more strenuous activity for those times of day. During the hottest parts of the day it’s much better for your senior to engage in activities that allow her to rest and to stay as cool as possible.

During the hotter parts of the year your elderly family member may not recognize her limits as easily. It can help a great deal to hire a senior care providers to be there with her for company and to watch for possible issues.

If you are considering Senior Care Services in Live Oak FL, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts Home Care. Call today: 352-225-3727.

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