Seven Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

The unofficial start of summer is just around the corner! Memorial Day kicks off a season of fun, as families and friends get together to enjoy longer days and warm weather.

If you’re enjoying the summer with a senior loved one, there are some simple precautions you can take to make sure that everyone stays safe and healthy as the temperature climbs.

Seniors can respond differently to hot weather than younger adults. As we age, we tend to be less hydrated, and skin may become more sensitive. Conditions and medications common in seniors can make higher temperatures and bright sun more challenging.

Here are seven simple tips to keep the seniors in your life safe this summer.

1. Stay hydrated! Everyone needs to drink more water during the summer, especially seniors. To help a senior stay hydrated this summer:
   • Keep a water bottle handy.
   • Include foods with a high water content, like watermelon, grapes, and cucumbers.
   • Limit caffeine intake.

    

2. Be mindful of conditions that can make seniors more sensitive to heat. High or low blood pressure, cardiac disease, and kidney disease can affect the body’s response to heat.

 

3. Review the side effects of your loved one’s prescriptions. Some medications, such as diuretics and some blood pressure medications, can impair sweating. This makes it more difficult for the body to naturally cool itself.

 

4. Minimize temperature changes. Seniors are more sensitive to changes in temperature, even for short times. When going out for a drive with a senior loved one, be sure the car is completely cool before leaving.

 

5. Know the signs of heatstroke. Symptoms include headache, nausea, rapid pulse, flushed face, mood changes, dizziness, and confusion. If you notice any of these symptoms, take action immediately.

 

6. Stay cool by choosing natural, loose-fitting fabrics that breathe, like cotton and linen.

 

7. Protect your loved ones from the sun. Senior skin can be more sensitive to sun exposure. Use a moisturizer with SPF, and remember the hats and sunglasses!

Stay safe this summer!

FountainView at College Road is a glatt kosher senior living community in Rockland County, NY.