While summertime brings sunny skies and the chance to spend more time outdoors – especially as families look to reconnect – extreme heat can also disproportionately impact certain populations. Recognizing that older adults are more prone to heat-related health problems, like muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, or even heatstroke, it’s important to prevent or respond to any warm weather issues as they arise.
That’s where Family & Nursing Care’s network of highly trained Caregivers can play a critical role in helping clients avoid any warm-weather health issues. Here are some of the ways they can assist to ensure family’s loved ones are safe during the heat of summer:
- Hydration: Hydration is key in the summer, especially for older adults. Caregivers can make it easier for clients to drink plenty of fluids during hot summer days by making sure there is plenty of cool water to drink both in the home and when they are outside and by reminding them to drink frequently.
- Proper attire: The best clothing for summer is light weight and made of natural materials like cotton or linen. These materials tend to be more comfortable and help our bodies stay cool. Before outings, Caregivers can help ensure their clients are wearing weather-appropriate clothes and have sunglasses and a hat with them to protect from sunburns, irritated eyes, glaucoma-related sensitivities, skin cancers, and more.
- Heatstroke: Older adults have a harder time regulating their body temperature, making them more prone to heatstroke, which can be quite dangerous. In extreme heat, Caregivers can help their clients avoid serious issues by watching for changes in their condition which can be precursors to heatstroke. Common signs of heat stroke include a body temperature over 104 degrees, headaches, nausea, not sweating despite the heat, dry or flushed skin, and fainting. Older adults with these symptoms should be taken to a cooler indoor space, where they can lie down and have ice packs put on their body. A Caregiver can also call 911.
- Mobility Issues: Even normal day-to-day activities require more energy in the summer heat, making it easier to get tired quickly. For older adults who have mobility issues, this problem is exacerbated. Caregivers can provide mobility support to your loved ones, ensuring they enjoy outdoor weather and don’t get too tired while out and about.
“While it’s important for everyone to stay active regardless of the time of year, it’s vital when being outdoors during the summer to take the proper precautions and ensure you are prepared for the warmer weather,” says Rachel Sanford, a Registered Nurse and Director of Nursing for Family & Nursing Care Select. “Older adults are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, which is why it’s very helpful for someone else, like a Caregiver, to be on hand, to assist with the right tools and guidance to help prevent and/or respond quickly to any warm-weather related issues.”
For more information about the services available at Family & Nursing Care, visit the Home Care Services webpage. For more information about the impact of heat on older adults, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.