Summer can involve a love-hate relationship for seniors. They might love summertime for the sun and long days, but they might also not like the sun and its heat.
Seniors may be vulnerable to experiencing health issues in summer. That’s why it’s important for them to be aware of the dangers of sunburns, heat strokes, and dehydration that comes with too much sun.
Enjoy the summer by making good decisions
Make this summer a healthy one with an exercise regimen that’s consistent and fun.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 150 minutes of aerobic physical activity per week for adults for them to enjoy good health and good living.
According to the CDC, the short-term benefits to exercise include:
—Improved sleep quality
—Reducing anxiety
—Lowering blood pressure
The CDC also says that the long-term benefits include:
—Improved brain health and reducing the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and lowering the risk of depression
—Lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes
—Lowers the risk of cancers to include bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, lung, and stomach
—Reduces the risk of weight gain
—Improves bone health
—Reduces the risks of falls
Be safe when you exercise with these tips
During summer, the timing of your exercise is important. Avoid the hotter parts of the day by exercising outdoors in the cool of the early morning, which also gives you the benefit of more shade as the trees may block the sun.
On the days when it’s just too hot and humid, take your workout inside. Whether it’s a gym, or a swim in an indoor pool, or a dance or aerobics session, staying inside can be a smart decision.
If you have a chronic medical condition, staying cool may be vital to your health. Staying inside in the air conditioning will help, along with a fan.
Follow these tips when you head outside
These CDC safety guidelines keep you healthy when you head outside:
—Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers your arms and legs and wide-brimmed hats
—Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 for protection from the sun
—Apply insect repellent
—Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to prevent mosquito bites and ticks
—Apply sunscreen before the insect repellent
After you come back inside from the outdoors, look for ticks on your clothing, your body, and your pets. If you’re swimming, reapply sunscreen after two hours or if you dry off with a towel. Another tip is to reapply sunscreen if you’re sweating.
Stay hydrated!
It’s important to stay hydrated during the summer to offset the loss of water in your body. As you age, your body naturally loses its ability to conserve fluid so drinking water is doubly important.
Make it a goal to drink six to eight cups of water a day. Avoid liquids that are diuretics such as coffee or soda pop.
A CARING-FIRST ENVIRONMENT
Senior living communities like Auburn Hill Senior Living are precisely that—a community. Residents become friends and even family, and a caring team is there to help them maintain their quality of life.
At Auburn Hill Senior Living, we offer both Assisted Living and Memory Care and we care with Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Residents first and Teamwork. We like to call it Caring with H.E.A.R.T.™!
If you believe a senior living community would benefit your loved one, get in touch with us. Schedule a tour or download a brochure today!