Summer can involve a love-hate relationship for seniors. They might love summertime for the sun and long days, but they might also not like the sun and its heat.
Seniors may be vulnerable to experiencing health issues in summer. That’s why it’s important for them to be aware of the dangers of sunburns, heat strokes, and dehydration that comes with too much sun.
Make it a good summer
Your good summer should include an exercise regimen, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends 150 minutes of aerobic physical activity per week for adults to have a healthy lifestyle.
According to the CDC, the immediate benefits to exercise include:
—Improved sleep quality
—Reducing anxiety
—Lowering blood pressure
The CDC also says that the long-term benefits include:
—Improved brain health and reducing the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and lowering the risk of depression
—Lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes
—Lowers the risk of cancers to include bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach
—Reduces the risk of weight gain
—Improves bone health
—Reduces the risks of falls
Exercise with safety in mind
If you are going outside to exercise, choose the cool part of the day such as early in the morning. That’s also when there’s more shade because the sun sits low on the horizon.
When it’s too hot, stay inside to exercise. Go to the gym, swim in an indoor pool, or find another exercise option such as walking indoors.
For those with chronic medical conditions, it’s particularly important to keep cool. Air conditioning is your friend and use a fan if you need it. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep an eye on the weather to avoid going out if it’s too hot.
Tips for being safe in the outdoors
When you’re heading outside, follow these CDC safety guidelines:
—Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs and wide-brimmed hats
—Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 for protection from the sun
—Use insect repellent.
—Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites and ticks
—Apply sunscreen before the insect repellent
After you come back inside from the outdoors, look for ticks on your clothing, your body, and your pets.
Reapply sunscreen after two hours of swimming and after you towel off. Also, reapply sunscreen periodically when you’re sweating.
Hydration is essential
During the summer, make a habit to drink water regularly. If you’re thirsty, it may be a sign of dehydration. For seniors, your body naturally loses its ability to conserve fluid.
Set a to drink six to eight cups of water a day. Avoid liquids that are diuretics such as coffee or soda pop.
A CARING-FIRST ENVIRONMENT
Senior living communities like Bellaire at Stone Port are precisely that—a community. Residents become friends and even family, and a caring team is there to help them maintain their quality of life.
At Bellaire at Stone Port, we offer both Assisted Living and Memory Care and we care with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Residents first and Teamwork. We like to call it Caring with H.E.A.R.T.™!
If you believe a senior living community would benefit your loved one, get in touch with us. Schedule a visit or download a brochure today!