The summer is a great time to enjoy family and time out and about. With aging parents, there can also be dangers with the summer heat. You want to celebrate being together and the amazing weather, but remember some concerns come with aging. Check out the three things you need to be mindful of and still enjoy summer activities without endangering your aging parents or loved one.

3 Tips to Enjoy Summer Fun and Be Safe

1. Before heading outdoors, make sure to check medications and how they interact with the summer heat. You want to enjoy time outside and all the joys of nature and family, but you don’t want a side effect of medication to make the time outside in the heat a major health concern. You can easily look up the side effects of medications on the National Library of Medicine’s DailyMed Website. Take the time to prepare before venturing outdoors with your parents.

2. Another big concern before you head into the beautiful sunshine of summer is make sure mom or dad have sunscreen. This is not just a little light coating on their face, but a generous amount all over, if they want to protect their skin against melanoma. The sun can provide much needed Vitamin D and increase positive mental health, but it can be damaging, if you get too much and you are not taking care of your skin. Many older adults seek clothing that protects against ultraviolet rays. This type of clothing is worth the investment if the clothing has a UVP or ultraviolet protection of 30 or above. A t-shirt only has 6 UVP for comparison. 

3. Dehydration is a big factor in the summer for anyone and particularly for aging adults. The ability to acknowledge the desire to drink water and stay hydrated wanes as you age. Also many aging adults prefer a soda or coffee versus water. Therefore, many elders do not know they are at risk of dehydration until it is too late. It is imperative to make sure if you are engaging in outdoor activities or just sitting and relaxing in the sun, you hydrate to stay healthy and not at risk for severe dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion or worse yet, heat stroke. 

The summer is a season many live for to enjoy the outdoors and family and friends. However, it is vital to be proactive before long outdoor activities or travel in the sun and heat. If you have more questions or concerns about your aging parents contact Ann Jamison at Senior Living Options. She is experienced with aging adults and how to find the best living arrangements for your parents at each chapter of the aging process. She has been a caregiver and has expert advice to help you have a positive experience while helping mom or dad so they can manage their next chapter of living to the fullest.  

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.