Ella Home Care

Call Now: 717-963-7280

  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Why Choose Home Care?
    • Respite Care
    • Request an Assessment
  • Our Caregivers
  • Employment
    • Apply Today
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook

June 5, 2019 by Kirk Brechbiel

5 Ways to Be Proactive About Senior Heat Safety in the Summer

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you know that summer is heating up. We’ve already had some days creep to the 90 degree mark, and this is only the beginning. In Pennsylvania, our summer months get dangerously hot and this heat is especially dangerous for our aging senior adult population.

Far too many injuries and deaths occur each summer due to the heat. This summer, in order to beat the heat, we urge you to be proactive with how you and your loved ones prepare for the coming weeks. Here are five steps to help get your started.

  1. Make sure air conditioning and fans are in working order.

Imagine on a hot day, your senior parents going to turn on their air conditioning unit and nothing happens. The temperatures are quickly rising and you may not be able to track down a repair man for hours, if not days. What do you do? This is the scenario you want to avoid and you can do so by making sure all air conditioning units and fans are in working order right now. Ideally, you would even do this in the spring months to allow time for repairs. Checking these things early and often will prevent the panic of being without cool relief in the hottest months.

  1. Limit time outside during the hottest hours.

The next thing you can do to be proactive about summer heat safety for your aging loved ones is to limit their time spent outdoors between 10am and 2pm. These are the hottest hours of the day and also when the sun is most direct. You can avoid unnecessary heat exhaustion and sunburn by planning your outdoor activities accordingly.

  1. Make it easy to stay hydrated.

When preparing for the summer, also check the home to be sure there are ample opportunities to get water and stay hydrated. Make it easy and enjoyable for your loved ones to drink liquids. Are water glasses easy to get to? Are there water bottles to make it more portable? Are there some low-calorie drinks that offer some taste to add variety? All of these things will help make proper hydration possible.

  1. Switch out the wardrobe.

For many senior adults, getting dressed each morning is a challenge all on its own. When summer comes around there is also the challenge of locating weather-appropriate clothes. If all the light-weight tops and shorts are packed away in storage, or on high shelves, it’s not going to be as easy as it should be to dress smart for the heat. Before summer sets in help your loved ones unpack their summer wear and remind them of the best outfits for the hottest days.

  1. Check in regularly.

Finally and most importantly, on hot days you should check in just a bit more frequently with your senior parents and grandparents. Not only is this a great opportunity to remind them of summer heat safety, you will also be able to hear how they are feeling and if they are staying cool and hydrated. This small act to keep seniors safe in the summer is well worth the effort!

This summer, be sure to be smart about the sun and the heat. The best defense is to be proactive with how you dress, the time you spend outside, and staying hydrated. We hope you’ll take these five actions and put them into practice for you and your loved ones this summer!

Filed Under: Advice, Blog Tagged With: advice, caregiver, caregiving, central pennsylvania, elderly, ella home care, health, heat, home care, hot, in home care, pennsylvania, professional caregiver, safety, senior, senior adult, senior living, summer

June 5, 2018 by Kirk Brechbiel

How to Keep Your Aging Loved One Safe and Healthy this Summer

Here in Central Pennsylvania, it feels like we wait most of the year for warm and sunny weather. It’s natural for us to want to get outside and enjoy every minute of it! However, we must use common sense when it comes to exposing ourselves to the sun and heat. Especially for older adults, the summer months pose real safety concerns such as dehydration, sunburn and heat exhaustion.

In an effort to keep our aging loved ones safe this summer, take a look at some tips for helping senior adults be proactive when it comes to beating the heat!

Wear Layers

Encourage your loved ones to dress in layers during the summer months. While they may feel cold in the morning or indoors with the AC on, during the afternoon and into the evening, things warm up quickly. Especially if you plan to go outside for any amount of time, plan ahead by wearing easy to remove layers that can quickly come off when the heat kicks in.

Apply Sunscreen

Even when covered up with layers, begin each morning by applying sunscreen. Whether you will be simply sitting in the sun for any period of time, or plan to be walking, gardening, etc., sunscreen is so important to keep your skin safe. Not only will it prevent the discomfort of sunburn, it will prevent serious long-term damage that may cause skin cancer. Sunscreen at every age is important, but especially for our aging loved ones who may need assistance applying it.

Give Air Conditioning Units a Check-Up

The worst time to figure out your air conditioning unit no longer works is in the heat of summer when you need it most. Help your aging loved one give their AC unit a check-up prior to the dog days of summer by scheduling an HVAC company to come and test everything out. If they do need a new unit, you will be able to plan ahead and have everything up and running before it becomes a danger to their health.

Limit Time Outside During Peak Heat Hours

Watch the forecast and plan your day accordingly. Avoid outdoor activities when temperatures reach into the 80’s and above. Be sure to also take humidity and wind into account. Early mornings are a great time to enjoy sunshine without the direct heat. Also seek shaded spots to relax, rather than placing an aging loved one in direct sunlight.

Stay Hydrated

Have cold water readily available and within reach. Some seniors may not have the ability to refill their own water bottles or drink from a cup. Be sure they have assistance throughout the day to meet these basic needs to stay hydrated. Even for seniors who are physically capable of providing themselves with water, like anyone, they will need encouragement to remember how much water they should drink in a day.

Have a Plan for Help

Most importantly, develop an action plan for getting help. Your loved one needs to know how to speak up when they feel too hot, thirsty or weak. Clearly communicate, and create a reminder, of who they should contact for any number of emergencies. Do a test run to make sure they are comfortable with the process. The peace of mind is well worth the effort!

How do you plan to help an aging loved one stay safe this summer? Share your favorite tip by leaving a comment below!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: adult, aging, aging loved one, care, caregiver, caution, dehydraution, elderly, ella home care, heat, home care, in home care, old, patient, professional caregiver, resources, safety, senior, summer, sunburn, sunscreen, tips

Our Promise To You

  • All calls answered by a live person
  • Engaged & well trained home care professionals
  • 24/7 access to your loved one’s care plan through our online portal
  • We will listen more than we talk
  • We will work one-on-one to develop your care plan

Download Our Brochure

ella_home_care_brochure-thumbnail

Contact Us

Ella Home Care
Address:
839 Market Street
Lemoyne, PA 17043

Phone: (717) 379-1793
Fax: (717) 695-2892

Email: info@ellahc.com

Copyright ©2021 · Ella Home care, All Rights Reserved