The summer months have arrived and if you are like many family caregivers you might be thinking about how to properly care for your elderly loved one during this time to help ensure that they stay safe and healthy while also enjoying activities with you and the rest of the family. While you might immediately think of the dangers of the sun, such as sunburn, it is very important that you also think about the heat itself. This can be very hazardous for your elderly loved one, making it extremely important that you take steps to guard your loved one against the heat throughout the warmer months of the year.
July 3 through August 15 are Air Conditioning Appreciation Days. This is the ideal time for you to educate yourself on the possible dangers that your senior might face when the temperature soars so that you can make meaningful modifications to your care that will help to protect them during this season.
Some things that you should know about the dangers of heat for your elderly loved one include:
- The bodies of elderly people do not adjust to drastic temperatures and to changes in temperature as well as younger people, making even seemingly slight changes far more difficult for them
- Certain medical conditions can cause the body to respond more severely to heat
- Certain medications and treatments can make your parent more vulnerable to the effects of heat, including inhibiting their production of sweat, which is the body’s natural means of cooling off
- Heatstroke can quickly result in permanent damage to the body and the brain, or even death
- Elderly adults tend to have less fluid in their body, making them more vulnerable to heat and less capable of bringing down their temperature effectively if they get overheated
- Because elderly adults might not feel thirst signals as strongly or might misinterpret them, they are vulnerable to chronic dehydration, which can be very dangerous and make them more vulnerable to heat
- If you have been looking for a way to enhance your elderly loved one’s quality of life and feel confident that they are getting everything that they need as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting senior care for them. A senior home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule that ensures that they get the care, support, assistance, and encouragement that they need when they need it, but that you are also able to continue to give them everything that you can.
The highly personalized services of a senior care provider help your elderly loved one to manage their needs and challenges while also supporting them in maintain as much activity, engagement, and independence as they age in place. Helping them to find activities that they enjoy, giving them companionship and emotional support, assisting with their personal care tasks, and encouraging them to stay active in the world around them can help your parent to find greater fulfillment, health, and well-being throughout their later years.
When it comes to protecting your parent from the dangers of heat, this care provider can be with your parent to help them make good lifestyle choices, provide supervision, and detect when they might be dealing with challenges so that they can help your parent make the care decisions that are right for them.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Dallas, TX, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands of Preston Hollow today at (214) 760-6944.
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