It’s not fun to be hot and to be unable to do much about that. Summer is a difficult time for a lot of seniors. As your elderly family member’s caregiver, try to see if you can work some of these ideas into your normal routine. They may be more helpful than you expect.
Avoid Heating up the Oven
Caregiver Cordova TN – Four Ways to Help Your Senior Cope with the Heat
Summer is not the time for lots of hot meals. You can still serve warm foods that stick to your senior’s ribs if that’s what she likes, but avoid using the oven to do so. Find alternatives like electric pressure cookers, slow cookers, and air fryers if you’re opting for warm foods. But if you’re like a lot of people, warm foods when it’s hot aren’t always appealing. That might mean smaller meals that are made up of cold foods. This might involve pasta salads, green salads, or even snacks with lots of cool foods.
What She Wears Matters
Clothing also has an impact on your senior’s ability to stay comfortable during hot weather. Look for natural fabrics, like cotton, that allow sweat to wick away from the body. It’s also a good idea to opt for looser fitting clothing rather than tighter clothes. Your elderly family member might not be the type to wear shorts and a tank top, but that doesn’t mean she can’t still stay cool and comfortable if she’s choosing the right clothing.
Time Activities Properly
Other times of the year allow for a lot more flexibility in terms of timing than summer tends to allow. If you’re planning to do anything outside, you definitely want to opt for either early in the day or in the evening because those times are much cooler. Anything during the hottest parts of the day, usually the middle of the day, can tend to be exhausting, even if your senior is inside in a controlled environment.
Water Is Always Going to Help
Proper hydration is always your senior’s friend, but never more so than during the hottest part of the year. Talk to your senior’s doctor about how much water she should be ideally drinking and figure out what will help her to get that amount of water every day. Sometimes getting enough water means figuring out which tips and tricks make water as appealing as possible for your elderly family member.
Your elderly family member might have other considerations to keep in mind when it’s hot. Talk to her doctor about those details to make sure you’re not missing anything.
For Caregiver Services in Cordova TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!
