Sunny weather is enough to lift anyone’s mood, but too much heat exposure is not good for anyone. This is especially true for older people, whose bodies are less equipped to deal with the scorching temperatures! Brave the sunshine without the right protection, and you could suffer from heatstroke or other heat-related illnesses.
Want to enjoy the sunny weather without worrying about your health? Check out some of our best advice for elderly in hot weather!
Advice for the elderly in hot weather:
- Stay hydrated
- Wear the right clothes
- Don’t forget sunscreen!
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun
- Close your blinds during the day
- Use linen bed sheets
- Eat cold foods
- Act fast if you feel unwell
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is the most obvious way to defend yourself against extreme heat. Everyone knows that drinking water is the key to staying hydrated, and keeping energetic in the hot weather. However, it’s easy to forget just how often you’ll need water to keep you going throughout a hot day (clue: it’s not just when you feel thirsty!) If you know that you’re going out for the day, be prepared with at least 2 bottles of cool water - chances are you’ll need it.
Wear the right clothes
Wearing t-shirts, shorts and dresses aren’t the only way of protecting yourself from hot weather. Sun-hats should be part of every older person’s wardrobe, keeping your face protected whether you are spending an afternoon gardening or simply going out for a summer stroll. Sandals or flip flops are a great way to keep your feet cooler, while sunglasses are essential for protecting sensitive eyes from the sun.
Don’t forget sunscreen!
You might think you can do without your sunscreen now and then, but you’d be wrong! Leave any exposed skin unprotected, and you could return home to a painful sunburn. Apply an SPF 15 sunscreen, re-apply every 2 hours, and you can enjoy the sun without getting hurt!
Avoid direct exposure to the sun
If you want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors, you can’t avoid the sun forever. But what you can do is pick the best time to go out during the day. Whether you need to run errands or simply enjoy the sunshine, get outside during the morning or the evening, and try not to be out in the sun during the hottest periods of the day - 11am to 3pm.
Close your blinds during the day
As well as protecting yourself from the sun outside, you also need to take precautions to keep your home as cool as possible. One key way to avoid a hot home is to keep your blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day, to prevent a greenhouse effect in your home. When it starts to get cooler, you can open your windows and enjoy a cool waft of air through your property!
Use linen bed sheets
Seniors need a good night's sleep more than anyone, but hot days can make this quite a difficult task. Luckily, we have the perfect solution - linen sheets! Linen sheets are lighter and less warm on your skin, providing a cooler alternative to the heavy fabric of your duvet. Linen also absorbs the sweat away from your skin, helping you get your beauty sweet in maximum comfort.
Eat cold foods
A piping hot meal probably isn’t the best way to combat the hot weather. So when it gets really hot, opt for cooler meals that still provide the very best nutrients, like pasta salads, fruit and sandwiches. If that all sounds a bit too healthy, don’t worry - hot weather is also a perfect excuse to indulge in some ice cream!
Act fast if you feel unwell
Protect yourself well, and you should be able to avoid the worst of the heat wave. But if you don’t, it’s important to be wary of the symptoms of heat related illness! If you feel faint, dizzy or nauseous, get out of the sun and call your doctor for some advice – you could be suffering from dehydration or heat stroke.
Want to make the most of sunny days during retirement? With a Churchill Retirement apartment, you take advantage of the hot weather at our annual summer parties! Start enjoying the benefits of retirement living here.