Extreme heat is becoming the new normal. Climate scientists and weather experts agree that the summers are only going to get hotter. Everyone has to adjust to new warmer temperatures, including seniors who are aging in place. In the summer seniors should have senior home care services.
Extreme heat can be particularly hard on seniors. Seniors have a hard time regulating their body temperatures so they feel the heat very strongly. And because of that seniors are more prone to heat-related illness than other age groups. When the temperatures climb seniors are more likely to have heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Senior home care will help seniors with chores like housework, shopping, and running errands. That way seniors don’t have to do it all themselves. When it’s too warm out for seniors to comfortably go out a senior home care provider can run errands or shop for them.
Some other ways that seniors can cope with extreme heat are:
Go Out In The Morning
If seniors do need to go out for medical appointments or errands or even to exercise they should go in the morning. The early morning is the coolest part of the day. So seniors should try to schedule appointments and do their shopping or errands before 10 AM. Seniors who prefer to exercise outdoors should get their workout done before 10 AM. Seniors should avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day.
Close Off Rooms In The House
In order to make the air conditioner more efficient and keep the house cooler it’s a good idea for seniors to close off any rooms in the house they’re not using. Keep the doors shut on extra bedrooms or other rooms that never get used. Close the vents. That will keep the cool air in just the rooms that are actually getting used. Seniors should also have fans in each room to help circulate the cool air.
Drink Lots Of Cool Water
Drinking cool water is something everyone should do when the weather is hot. To encourage seniors to drink more try making punch with fruit and sparkling water. Or serve watered-down fruit juice. Sparkling water mixed with fruit juice like cranberry juice is a healthy and fun summer drink that seniors will enjoy. Homemade popsicles made with fruit juice are also a fun way for seniors to stay cool.
Take Cool Baths
Cool baths and showers help seniors regulate their body temperature. It’s often recommended that seniors take a cool bath or shower at night before they go to bed. Cooling off with a relaxing bath or shower can help seniors sleep better. Adding some cold milk to a cool bath can help moisturize the skin. Soaking in a cool bath can be a little tough on the skin and make it dry. But adding about a cup of cold milk to the bath will prevent dry skin even if seniors soak in the tub for a long time.
Sources: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-hot-summer-is-one-of-the-coolest-of-the-rest-of-our-lives/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/climate/extreme-summer-heat.html
https://www.ready.gov/heat
If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Home Care Services in Princeton NJ please contact the caring staff at Expert Home Care today at (732) 937-5320.
We have been providing Home Health Care to New Jersey families since 1985, and have grown to become one of the largest licensed providers of Live-In Home Care in the upper New Jersey area. Our many years of New Jersey home care experience has produced a company that over 8,000 clients have come to rely on confidently, for help.
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