Summer is here, and everyone is ready to go outside for all of their activities. Many people start grilling meals and eating outside, people have birthday parties outside, and family gatherings can be a fun day at the beach or park.
The sun provides a lot of healthy nutrients for your loved one, like Vitamin D, which is important for her overall health, but it’s also necessary that you take some precautions with your elderly loved one when she’s going to spend some time out in the sun for any extended period this summer.
While everyone needs to be safe in the sun, for seniors, protecting their skin from sunburn can be even more necessary. Getting companion care at home services for them, along with these tips, can help.
The Dangers of Too Much Sun for Seniors’ Skin
Your elderly loved one is especially vulnerable to the dangers of the sun for several reasons:
- Higher Risk of Sunburn: Because your loved one’s skin is thinner and less elastic and supple than when it was younger, it can quickly become a victim of too much sun, resulting in a painful, serious sunburn.
- Increased Likelihood of Skin Cancer: Thinner skin can also increase the risk of damage occurring to the skin that may lead to cancerous mutations.
- Advancement of Premature Aging: Excessive exposure to the sun can reduce the skin’s elasticity and break down collagen, creating drier, leathery skin and skin spots.
Protecting Your Senior’s Skin While Outside in the Summer
Just a few safety steps can help keep your loved one’s skin protected this summer:
- Always apply sunscreen. Help your loved one apply sunscreen to all areas that might be exposed to the sun. She might need your help to cover those areas she can’t reach, like her shoulders or the back of her neck. Reapply the lotion every few hours when outside and anytime after she goes in the water.
- Wear protective clothes. While your loved one might think she wants a sleeveless shirt and a pair of shorts, both of those items expose a lot of skin. It can be safer for her to wear lightly fitted long-sleeved shirts and long trousers. Help her find fabrics that allow plenty of breathing to keep her cool while covered.
- Don’t forget a hat. A wide-brimmed hat can protect her scalp, especially if she has thinning hair. It also helps protect the face, neck, ears, and shoulders, places often damaged by too much sun.
- Avoid going out when the sun is at its strongest. If possible, plan outings for early morning or early evening to avoid the most damaging sun’s rays.
Companion Care at Home: When Your Senior Needs Reminders
If your elderly loved one struggles to remember to keep herself safe while out in the sun during the summer due to cognitive issues, it can help to have a companion care at home provider join her when she ventures outside.
A companion care at home provider can help by providing reminders to keep important protective gear on, like sunglasses and hats. A companion care at home provider can also gently guide your loved one to shaded areas as she explores the backyard or a local park.
When your loved one heads outside this summer, you can feel more confident in her ability to stay safe when she’s got a companion care at home provider by her side.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Companion Care at Home in Nassau, NY, please contact the caring staff at Help at Home today at (631) 859-3435
Help at Home is a top provider of home care services in Islip, Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Brookhaven, Hempstead & Oyster Bay, and surrounding areas on Long Island & NYC. We serve Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties.
Whether you or a loved one is recuperating from an illness or a senior requiring care, we can help. Help at Home is committed to providing quality home care at affordable rates. Helping a patient remain in the comfort and security of their home is our goal. We are the best alternative to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Help at Home caregivers
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