No matter where your senior lives, she’s likely had at least one major heat wave this summer and she’s likely due for more. Here are some ideas to help her to make sure she doesn’t overheat this summer.
Keep Ice Going in the Freezer
If your elderly family member has an automatic ice maker, make sure it’s turned on. If she doesn’t, keep ice going in ice trays. Not only is ice tasty in cool beverages, but it can also help to cool your senior down if she overheats. Wrap an ice cube or two in a towel and use that around the back of your senior’s neck or around each wrist to help her to cool down.
Stay in the Coolest Rooms in the House
Most houses have one or two rooms that are cooler than the others. This is often because of how the house is situated as well as whether there are any shade trees in the area. Encourage your elderly family member to keep blinds closed and to spend most of her time in the cooler rooms of the house. That can help her to stay cool without turning the air conditioner down too low.
Eat Hydrating Foods
Hydrating foods are beneficial because they add to the water your senior is getting every day but they’re also cooling to eat. Foods like berries and melons are high in water content and they’re also tasty. Cold soups, gelatin, and popsicles made from fruit juice can also be good choices. It’s a good idea to bring in elder care providers to help your senior to eat healthy and cooling meals.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Both caffeine and alcohol can be dehydrating, which means that these are ingredients that you might want to encourage your senior to avoid. If she just can’t give up her coffee, try to make a deal with her to drink a glass of water for every cup of coffee she has. That can help to mitigate the dehydrating impact the caffeine might have. Home care providers can help to remind your senior to sip water frequently.
Use a Humidity and Temperature Meter to Keep Tabs on Temperatures
It’s a good idea to have one or two temperature and humidity meters in your senior’s home. She can keep them in the rooms that she’s in most often. Tracking both temperature and humidity helps your aging family member to keep track of which rooms are truly cooler. She can also start to see how humidity affects things like breathing issues.
Stay Alert for Signs of Trouble
It’s vital that your elderly family member stays alert for signs that the heat might be getting to her. Nausea, dizziness, and muscle cramping can be early signs of heat stroke, for instance. Elder care providers can keep an eye on your elderly family member and make sure that she gets help right away if she gets too hot.
Summer temperatures and humidity levels are nothing to play around with for your senior. She needs to make sure she’s doing everything that she can to avoid health ramifications from overheating.
If you or a loved one are looking for experienced Elder Care in Gainesville VA, contact SenCura at 703-880-2547. Providing in-home senior care in Northern Virginia.