Summer encourages people to get outdoors and embrace the warm weather. However, spending too much time in excessive heat can drastically affect your health and well-being. Older adults face an increased risk of heat-related complications due to factors such as dehydration or using certain medications.

Taking precautions can help you beat the heat while enjoying your summer plans. At Cedar Creek, we’re committed to helping seniors stay safe throughout the summer. Explore these summer safety tips for seniors to have fun this season without sacrificing your health.

Why Summer Safety for Seniors Matters

As people age, their bodies become less efficient at regulating temperature, making it difficult to adapt to sudden, intense temperature changes. Older adults also store fat differently and don’t sweat as much, further impacting heat regulation. These factors can cause health issues in seniors who experience prolonged exposure to extreme heat.

Additionally, older adults are more likely to have chronic medical conditions and take prescription medications that hinder their ability to sweat, retain fluid or regulate body temperature. These concerns emphasize the importance of learning summer safety tips to proactively protect your health.

How Does Heat Affect Seniors?

Due to the bodily changes seniors face, exposure to high temperatures can cause various heat-related illnesses, including:

• Heatstroke. This occurs when your body fails to regulate its temperature and overheats. Symptoms include high body temperature, fast heartbeat, confusion, slurred speech and hot or dry skin.
• Heat exhaustion. Exercising in hot weather or spending too much time in the sun can cause heat exhaustion. This is the body’s response to overheating and failing to cool itself. Symptoms include weakness, excessive sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness and tiredness.

Heat cramps. Caused by dehydration and a loss of nutrients from sweating, heat cramps are painful muscle spasms that can lead to heatstroke or exhaustion. Most cramps resolve within 30 to 60 minutes. Seek medical attention if they last longer.

Essential Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

Don’t miss out on summer because of poor health practices. Explore these summer tips for seniors to stay safe during the hottest time of year.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids reduces the risk of heat-related illnesses. Bring water wherever you go, and refrain from consuming alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Consider incorporating hydrating foods, such as watermelon and cucumbers, into your daily meals.

Dress Appropriately

Wear protective, loose-fitting clothing to enhance body temperature regulation and combat the sun’s harsh rays. Clothing options to consider include:

• Lightweight long-sleeved shirts and pants in light colors
• Wide-brimmed hats
• Sunglasses
• UV filtering garments

Avoid the Midday Sun

Monitor peak sun hours where you live. Midday generally experiences the highest temperatures, presenting an ideal time to participate in indoor activities. Try getting outside in the morning before breakfast or in early to late evening when the sun is less intense and more shade is available.

Use Sunscreen

Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen every day before going outside to protect against UVB and UVA rays. Seniors should use at least SPF 30, which blocks about 97% of UVB rays. SPF 50 also works, but it doesn’t offer much difference in protection, blocking about 98% of UVB rays. Reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Keep Cool Indoors

Maintaining a cool indoor environment is crucial in finding relief from the heat after being outdoors. Crank up the air-conditioning, or position fans in your home’s most-used rooms. You can also take cool showers or visit a nearby friend, mall or restaurant if you don’t have proper cooling devices.

Plan Safe Outdoor Activities

Participate in low-energy outdoor activities to stay active while maintaining safety. Try gardening, walking, bird-watching, visiting a nearby park for a picnic or taking a dip in the pool. Wherever you go, locate nearby shade and take frequent breaks to avoid overheating or dehydrating.

Summer Health Tips for Seniors

Even when utilizing safety summer tips, monitoring your health is still important in maintaining well-being. Consider the following factors to make the most of your summer.

Monitor Medications

Certain medications commonly prescribed to seniors can increase risk of heat-related illnesses. These medications include:

• Diuretics. These are used to help the body eject excess fluid and salt. Diuretics increase urine output, which can worsen dehydration.
• Beta blockers. These drugs block the effects of adrenaline to reduce blood pressure. However, beta blockers also slow heart rate, which can increase your risk of heatstroke.
• Antihistamines: These medications are used to prevent allergies and can hinder sweating, affecting the body’s ability to self-regulate temperature.

If you’re taking any of these medications, consult a doctor for the full list of effects. They can also offer further guidance on protecting your health in hot weather.

Recognize the Signs of Heat-Related Illness

Heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke, cause symptoms ranging from heavy sweating and dizziness to high body temperature and dry skin. If you or someone you know experiences these or related symptoms, call 911 or go to a hospital. While waiting for help, move to a shaded or air-conditioned area. Drink water, and cover your body with ice packs or cool, wet towels to reduce body temperature.

Cedar Creek’s Commitment to Senior Safety

At Cedar Creek, we help memory care residents stay safe during summer through thoughtfully designed activities and amenities. Residents have access to games, movie nights and exercise programs in air-conditioned spaces to stay cool and active. They can also use the community garden to enjoy a low-energy outdoor activity without overheating.

Additionally, our high daytime staff-to-resident ratio enables close supervision during hot days. We can monitor water or food intake and heat exposure to ensure hydration and prevent heat-related illnesses.

Embrace Summer With Confidence

Following summer safety tips for seniors is crucial in maintaining health and well-being. Don’t let the heat ruin your summer plans. Implement these tips in your daily schedule for a safe and enjoyable summer. Reach out to Cedar Creek for more summer health tips or to visit our community.