Summer Safety for Your Senior Parent

Summer is upon us and your parent is probably looking forward to spending more time outside doing activities they love. But, summer brings its own set of safety concerns for seniors due to the heat, sun, insects, and higher activity levels.

Home Health Care Upper Darby PA – Summer Safety for Your Senior Parent

To help your parent have a safer, healthier summer, here are five tips for summer safety.

#1 Don’t Skip the Sunscreen
Sun burns are painful, and what’s more, exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. However, AARP reports that 61 percent of people age 60 and older don’t use sunscreen. To help your parent prevent skin cancer (and reduce signs of aging, too!), make sure they use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 whenever they go outside. A home health care provider can help by reminding them to use sunscreen and by assisting them with applying it.

#2 Drink Plenty of Liquids
Older adults are more susceptible to dehydration because the body naturally stores less fluids with age. Home health care providers should make certain seniors drink water throughout the day and that they pack water when taking seniors on outings.

#3 Stay Connected
Hot weather can be especially dangerous for seniors because they are at a higher risk for heat stroke. Their bodies are not as able to regulate temperatures as they were when they were younger. Also, seniors may have medical conditions or take medications that further impede the body’s ability to stay cool. To make sure your parent stays safe, check in with them more frequently on hot days. Having a home health care provider stop in through the day can help when you are unable to visit due to work or other responsibilities, or if you do not live near your parent.

#4 Avoid Mosquitos  
Seniors are at a greater risk for serious illness due to West Nile Virus, which is spread by mosquitos. If your parent lives in an area where West Nile Virus is present, they should always wear insect repellent when going outside. It is also a good idea to wear clothing that covers the arms and legs after dusk since mosquitos are more active at that time. Home health care providers can assist your parent with applying insect repellent and remind them to stay covered up when insects are most active.

#5 Wear Sturdy, Non-Slip Shoes
During the summer, your parent may be more active since they can get outside to enjoy walks and other outdoor activities. Increased physical activity may also increase your parent’s risk of falling. To help avoid falls, make sure your parent wears sturdy shoes with good traction. Shoes should fit well and completely surround the feet, rather than sandals or flip-flops that slip off the back of the foot.

Sources: http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2014/how-to-choose-the-best-sunscreen.html
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/older-adults-heat.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/dxc-20261072
https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/genquestions.html
https://nihseniorhealth.gov/falls/personalchanges/01.html

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care Services in Upper Darby PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.

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Perry C. Doc Alleva, Owner & Administrator

Owner & Administrator at True Direct Home Health Care

True Direct HHC owner and administrator, Perry C. Doc Alleva has been in the health care community for over 10 years as a therapy solutions provider, as well as a home care services coordinator. He has extensive experience in caring for the disabled and the surgical acute, sub-acute, and rehab population. Rooted in his home-town city of Philadelphia, with strong ties to it's vast neighborhoods and communities, he's now focusing all his energies towards innovating the home health care agency's role in providing the essential care needed from individual to the family throughout the community.

Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.

"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."

In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.

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