Blog > Heat Exhaustion: Helping Your Parent Avoid Heat Exhaustion

Heat Exhaustion: Helping Your Parent Avoid Heat Exhaustion

Heat Exhaustion: With warmer temps right around the corner (and in some parts of the country, they’re already here), you and your family may be looking forward to spending time outdoors enjoying the bright, sunny days that come with summer.

Unfortunately, as the temperatures increase, so does the risk of developing heat exhaustion, especially for your elderly parent. Seniors are often more likely to develop heat exhaustion before others due to their body’s inability to regulate heat as well as it used to in addition to the fact that many of the medications they are on may make them more susceptible to heat exhaustion.

Have your parent wear loose-fitting and light clothing. While many people wear as little clothes as possible when it’s warm, your parent will actually be safer from heat exhaustion if her clothes cover most of her body loosely. Flowing skirts, shirts, and pants allow air to flow around the body, helping it cool off. Ask her home care provider to help her pick out appropriate clothes for the event.

Have your parent avoid the direct sun. If the event is outdoors, make sure there is a seating area in the shade or in a cool place. Not only does direct sun increase the body’s temperature, it can also quickly burn your parent’s skin, which will increase her body temperature. Have your home care provider help by making sure your parent uses a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 that day. Then whoever is with your parent during the day should make sure she re-applies it every two hours or so. A nice wide-brimmed hat can also help protect her eyes and face from the sun.

Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can speed up heat exhaustion, so make sure your parent is drinking plenty of fluid while she’s out. Water is great, but sports drinks can be even better on really hot days, replacing essential electrolytes. Senior citizens sometimes don’t feel thirsty even when they’re getting dehydrated so having someone like your home care provider or a family member continually remind your parent to drink up will help her keep on top of her hydration.

If possible, avoid the hottest parts of the day. If it’s an event you’re attending, try attending during the early morning or evening so that your parent avoids the hottest times of the day with the strongest sun. If it’s an all-day event, make sure your parent is resting in a cool area when the temperatures are at their worst.

Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion. If your parent starts to have a headache, is dizzy, is nauseous, or has cool, moist skin with goosebumps despite the heat, take immediate action to get her out of the heat and treated for the possible onset of heat exhaustion.

Summer is a wonderful time to be out and enjoying all that the warmer temperatures allow us to enjoy, but like any time of the year, care needs to be taken to protect those most vulnerable to the accidents, illnesses, and injuries that come with each season such as heat exhaustion.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering hiring Home Care in Boulder, CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.