Your family may have some annual 4th of July traditions that you do every year but as your loved one has aged, you might need to reconsider how he celebrates the day with you to make sure he stays safe and healthy during the celebration. Ending the day with an injury or illness is not the way you want to remember this iconic summer holiday.
Let’s look at some July 4th activities that you will want to consider adjusting to keep your senior safe.
Even if your senior is still driving, trying to navigate crowded roads, especially after a night of fireworks can get to be overwhelming for many seniors. Even finding their way to the picnic during the day may be a struggle. Help your senior stay safe by providing rides for him if needed. A home care provider can help bring him to the festivities and then arranging to have a family member or even hiring a car service like Uber to drive him home might be the best way to make sure he gets home safely after the event.
Nothing is more fun than spending an entire day at the lake or ocean enjoying the water and being with family and friends, but all that sun can be dangerous, especially for your senior whose skin is more sensitive. Make sure you have well-shaded areas where your senior can find relief. When packing for the day, ask your senior’s home care provider to not only make sure your loved one gets sunscreen on all those places he can’t reach but also has plenty of extra coming with him to reapply during the day.
A hot summer day spent playing games and eating lots of salty snacks (and maybe imbibing a few alcoholic beverages) can cause your elderly loved one to become dehydrated before he knows it. The key to preventing dehydration is staying hydrated all day long and never getting to that point where he’s actually feeling especially thirsty. Have his home care provider back a large, full water bottle (preferably a refillable one that holds 24 ounces or more) and then keep it in sight at all times. If it’s tucked inside a cooler or a beach bag, your loved one may forget all about it.
A long day can be exhausting and result in your loved one taking days to recuperate afterward. Make sure your loved one can find a place to relax and rest during the day’s events or have him plan on coming for only some of the festivities.
With a little pre-planning, your loved one will have a fantastic Fourth!
Reference
https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/tip-sheet-hot-weather-safety-tips-older-adults
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