Personal Care at Home Summer Hygiene Tips For Seniors
As your loved one gets older you may be concerned about them living at home on their own. However, for many seniors, aging in place is a possibility because there are tons of ways to get support and to thrive even in their later years. You may be worried for your loved one’s health and safety this summer but personal care at home can help them in so many ways. Here is how personal care at home can help your loved one stay safe this summer.
Staying Hydrated
Your loved one may forget to drink on their own, and this can actually be so dangerous for a seniors health. As someone gets older their body may not have the same cues telling them they are hungry or thirsty. So they may go a long time without drinking water which is deadly during the hotter months. Personal care at home will ensure a senior has water within reach wherever they go.
Your loved one will need easy access to water and small reminders throughout the day. Even if they are not feeling thirsty a caregiver should be paying attention to how much water they consume. A senior should still be getting 6-8 cups of water every day even though they are older.
Wearing the Right Clothing
Your loved one may have favorite clothing items they love but they may not be appropriate for the weather outside. Your loved one will need to wear cooling clothes that are also protective. Cotton clothing will help a senior keep cool and dry during the summer. They may need to wear layers indoors. If they are wearing short sleeves they need to ensure they are wearing SPF and even hats to cover their face. As a senior gets older their skin becomes more sensitive and this can be bad for them during the summer. Right clothing and SPF is something that personal care at home can help your loved one with.
Finding Shade
No matter how old you get your loved one should be going outside to enjoy the sun. However, this is also one of the best ways to sweat more and unfortunately, overheat at the same time. Caregivers can encourage outside time but also encourage being safe. They may need to help keep water nearby and even find shade for your senior. This will help them stay safe while being outside and will help them from getting overheated or even sunburned.
Finding the Right Temperature Inside
Your loved one may need to install an AC or they may have a central AC in their house. Your loved one may not look at the thermostat which can actually be a problem not only for their comfort but also for the bills. Their inside environment should be a comfortable temperature and it may need to be adjusted as the weather gets hotter. If your loved one does not like using the AC they may need a small window unit, fans, or somewhere where they can keep just one room colder than the others. Having somewhere to cool off is going to be important.