June 5 through 11 is Sun Safety Week. If you have been a caregiver for your aging parent for any length of time, you already know how important it is to keep your parent safe from the potential dangers of the sun, including the risk of sunburn and the possibility of skin cancer that can come as a result of those burns. Truly keeping your parent safe from the sun, however, is about more than just putting on the right amount of sunscreen before they hit the beach. Keeping all of the different ways that you can protect them in mind is an important part of ensuring that they have a safe, healthy, and enjoyable summer season.
Use these tips to help keep your parent safer during Sun Safety Week:
• Be aware of contact burns. A burn to the skin from the ultraviolet rays of the sun is not the only way that your parent might suffer a burn related to the sun this summer. Be aware of how quickly the sun can heat up surfaces such as seatbelt buckles, dashboards, cement or wood decks around a pool, and other objects. Touching these surfaces even for a second can be quite painful. Protect your parent by taking precautions such as covering the seatbelt with a towel before getting out of the car or using a reflective windshield cover to prevent the sun from getting into the car when parked, insisting that they wear water shoes when visiting a pool, or avoiding touching anything that has been in the sun.
• Never sit in the car. A parked car can become fatally hot in only a matter of minutes. Even on days when the temperature outside does not seem very high, the inside of the car acts like an oven. All of the surfaces within the car heat up, which then heats up the air around them until the inside can soar. Rolling down the window does not help. If you need to go inside, your parent needs to come in with you.
• Be ready for heat stroke. Seniors tend to be particularly vulnerable to heat. This is for many reasons, including that their bodies do not have the water content that they did when they were younger, which diminishes the body's ability to stay cool. Seniors also tend to feel cold. This means that even if their bodies are starting to overheat, seniors may not feel the intensity of the temperature. This can cause them to stay exposed to the high temperature for even longer. This can make your parent vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. For seniors who are dealing with cognitive limitations and challenges, the risk can be even higher. Having an elder care provider with your parent throughout the summer months can give you peace of mind that your parent is in good hands. This home care provider can keep track of time and help ensure that they do not spend too much time in the sun while also encouraging them to drink more fluids throughout the day.
Title: If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Murray, UT contact the caring staff at Interim Healthcare. Call today 801-401-3515.
Author: Michael and Marlena Hawkins, Owners, Interim HealthCare, Salt Lake City, UT Interim HealthCare of Salt Lake City has been in business since February 2014, providing in-home personal care and support services that help our elderly and/or disabled neighbors live enriched, safe and independent lives. Our goal is to provide customized care and support services that make it possible for our clients to remain in the comfort of their own homes rather than relocate to an assisted living facility. Interim HealthCare is family owned by Michael and Marlana Hawkins, and is a Veteran Owned Small Business.
