Outdoor Safety for Seniors Who Love to Garden
Gardening season is here in many locations. When your parent is spending time outside, they need to do so safely. Here are the aspects of safety that often get overlooked when your parents are outside in the garden.
Wear a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
Senior Care Broomall PA Seniors and Gardening
A mineral-based broad-spectrum sunscreen is important. Your parents need to pick a sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF and apply it liberally 15 minutes before going outside. They need to reapply it every one to two hours. If they’re sweating or cooling off with a hose, they should reapply after getting wet.
Drink Some Water Each Hour
Hydration is important. If they’re outside for an hour or longer, they need to stop and drink a few ounces of water twice an hour. They should aim for an 8-ounce cup every hour while they’re outside. If they feel thirsty, it could be they’re not drinking enough.
Avoid the Hottest Hours of the Day
The hottest times of day are also the times when the sun is highest in the sky. These are the times they should avoid being outside. Generally, it’s the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. If they can keep their gardening times to the morning or late afternoon, it’s ideal.
Seek Shade
While outside, your parents should seek shade every now and then. Shade won’t protect them from all UVA and UVB rays, but it’s a start. A wide-brimmed hat is one way to stay in the shade. You could also put up a sun tent near their garden if there are no trees nearby.
Watch for Ticks
Ticks are found in many states and some carry dangerous diseases. Your parents should wear long pants tucked into socks when gardening. Those clothes should be light in color. After gardening, they should check their clothing. A tick repellent is also helpful at preventing these parasites.
Don’t Overexert
Getting all of the seeds planted in one afternoon may seem ideal to your parents, but they need to avoid overexertion. Make sure they know to take breaks regularly. Those breaks should include sips of water and time in the shade. While they’re taking a break, they could cool off with the hose or go inside and sit down for a while.
One of the helpful senior care services is supervision. Caregivers can help your parents apply the appropriate amount of sunscreen. They can make sure your parents stay hydrated. They also offer support if a yard is uneven and can trip your parent up. Call a senior care agency to talk about these and other home care services.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Broomall, PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
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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