People over the age of 65 are more likely to suffer from heat stroke during warm weather than younger people are. One of the reasons seniors get heat stroke more easily is that they don’t adjust to temperature changes as well as they did when they were younger. Older adults also more commonly have chronic conditions that can impact the way their bodies handle heat or that require medications that make heat more dangerous. Whatever the reason your aging relative might be more prone to heat stroke, knowing how to prevent it is an important part of being a family caregiver. Below are some tips for preventing heat stroke in the elderly.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
One of the best things you can do to keep your older family member from having heat stroke is by making certain they drink enough fluid. Of course, water is the best choice. However, some seniors don’t enjoy drinking water or get bored with it. Other kinds of drinks are also effective in keeping seniors hydrated. Try offering things like iced tea, lemonade, or infused water.
An elderly care provider can make sure your aging relative drinks plenty of liquids throughout the day by keeping a full water glass near them or making them flavored drinks.
Don’t Leave the Senior in a Hot Car
When you run errands with your aging relative, it can be tempting to leave them in the car. Perhaps you only plan to be a few minutes and the senior walks slowly. Or, maybe getting them into a wheelchair or getting their walker out is difficult. If that’s the case, it’s better for the senior to stay home on hot days.
By contacting an elderly care agency, family caregivers can schedule an elderly care provider to stay with the older adult at home while the caregiver runs errands.
Prevent Sunburn
When a senior has a sunburn, it makes it even harder for the body to cool itself. To prevent the older adult from getting a sunburn, make sure they wear sunscreen when going outside. It may also be best to plan outdoor activities for times of the day when the sun isn’t as strong. Seniors should also sit in the shade whenever possible.
Elderly care providers can help the senior to put sunscreen on before going outside, making sure they use enough and get it on all exposed areas of the body. Elderly care providers can also help them to find places to sit in the shade.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring elderly care in Mountain View, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.
Sources:
https://dailycaring.com/6-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-heat-stroke-in-seniors/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/older-adults-heat.html