Eighty percent of the annual heat-related deaths occur in adults aged 60 or older. Your dad loves being outside all summer, but you worry about him. If he has home care providers they can assure you that he follows some summer safety tips.

With these summer safety tips, you can stop spending time stressing about his time spent gardening, walking, or lounging.

Be Liberal With Sunscreen

Many people fail to put on enough sunscreen. The proper amount for the average person is the equivalent of what would fill a shot glass or around two tablespoons, but the amount of exposed skin may increase or decrease the amount needed.

Sunscreen should be a broad-spectrum product with an SPF of 35 or higher. Apply it about ten minutes before heading outside and reapply it after getting wet or every two hours, whichever comes first.

Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

While your dad is outside, he needs to be aware of his surroundings. Is a neighbor’s dog roaming loose? If so, would it come over and knock him down? Is the dog friendly with others? He needs to put his safety first and head inside or to an area the dog cannot access.

That’s just one thing to pay attention to. On walks, he needs to watch for cars, wild animals, and other people on foot, bikes, or scooters.

Know Your Limits

He needs to know his limits and stick to them. If your dad knows he’s not steady when he walks on uneven ground, he should walk with a walking stick or cane. Or, he doesn’t go outside without someone with him because he knows he tires easily after ten minutes. His walking companion can make him turn around before ten minutes are up.

Seek Shade Often

When it’s hot outside, your dad needs to focus his activities to include a lot of time spent in the shade. He can be in the sun for half an hour and then take a break for ten minutes in the shade while he drinks some water.

Stay Hydrated

Providing your dad doesn’t have any underlying health issues, the general goal is three liters of water per day for men and two for women. If he’s extra active or sweats profusely, he might need more than that.

He should drink enough that his urine is a pale yellow. If it’s not, he needs to drink more.

Check for Ticks

When he comes inside, your dad needs to be checked over for ticks. Many ticks carry diseases like Lyme or Rocky Mountain Fever that can impact your dad’s health. Getting a tick off within 24 hours is the best way of preventing these tick-borne illnesses.

Have you considered the benefits of having a home care aide with your dad when he’s going for walks, gardening, or sitting outside on a deck or patio? His home care aides can ensure he’s applying sunscreen, drinking enough, and seeking shade when necessary. Talk to our specialist to learn more.

Sources: https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/effects-heat-older-adults

If you or a family member need to hire Home Care Services in Fort Lauderdale FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. We provide service in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Margate, Pompano Beach, and Tamarac.

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Stephen Sternbach

CEO at Star Multi Care Services

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sternbach has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Star Multi Care Services since 1987. After the sale of the New York and New Jersey operations of Star Multi Care Services, Sternbach brought the company private where he remains President and CEO of this 40-million dollar company. With Sternbach at the helm, Star Multi Care Services employs more than 650 employees, in six offices throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

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