Getting out of the house and enjoying activities and outings in the fresh air is a fantastic way to stimulate your parent’s mind, encourage more physical activity and boost their mental and emotional health and well-being. As a family caregiver, it is important to keep in mind your senior’s health and safety needs while encouraging them to live as active and engaged a lifestyle as possible. One of the most important elements of this is protecting their skin from the sun. While many people only think about skin protection when it comes to extended times of sun exposure, such as a day at the beach, sun protection should be an element of their daily lives anytime your parent will be exposed to the sun. Even a few minutes of unprotected sun exposure can add up over time and increase the potential for serious health risks, including skin cancer.
Use these tips to protect your senior’s skin from the sun:
- Ensure your senior wears sunscreen anytime they will be exposed to the sun. Check their sunscreen to make sure it has not passed its expiration date, and do not leave the sunscreen in a car or other hot environment where the active ingredients can break down and diminish effectiveness
- Encourage your senior to wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible. When possible, look for clothing at that has built-in sun protection
- Encourage your senior to wear hats with wide brims and large sunglasses when possible to provide protection to the face and skin around the eyes
- Avoid exposure to the sun during the times of day when the rays are most intense, including between the hours of noon and 4 p.m.
- Remember that most glass does not stop damaging rays, so even if your parent is going to be inside a car or near a window, they need to be protected from the sun
Many elderly adults struggle with challenges and limitations that keep them from being able to be as active and engaged in the world around them as they would like. If you are a family caregiver for such a senior, now may be the ideal opportunity for you to consider care for them. Involving senior care in your daily routine can be an exceptional way to encourage your parent to engage in a more fulfilling lifestyle as they age in place. A senior home care services provider can offer a wide range of customer services specifically designed to help your parent stay safe and healthy, manage their challenges and limitations, and enjoy more independence and autonomy. This care provider will help your parent to make good lifestyle choices, keep themselves healthy, manage their needs, and experience more activity and fulfillment in the ways that are right for them.
If you or an aging loved one needs Senior Care in Elk Grove, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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