Summer is a wonderful time to connect, move, and get fresh air, but let’s be honest, heat can sneak up on seniors fast. Here are some less obvious but powerful summer safety ideas you may not have considered:
- Create a “hydration routine” — not just reminders.
Instead of simply telling a senior to “drink more,” set a hydration schedule — for example, a glass of water every two hours, with a fun water tracker app or even a chart on the fridge. This can work better than relying on thirst, which can fade with age.
- Cool from the inside out.
Serve chilled fruits like watermelon, cucumber slices, or even popsicles made with electrolyte-rich sports drinks. These snacks hydrate and cool at the same time.
- Use a “cooling kit“.
Keep a basket stocked with a spray bottle of water, a handheld fan, and a cold, damp washcloth. Seniors can use these to stay comfortable when moving around the house or out in the garden.
- Temperature check zones.
Walk through the senior’s home with them — feel which rooms get the hottest, and plan to spend time in the cooler spaces during the afternoon. Sometimes a simple furniture rearrangement can help.
Instead of only one person checking in, set up a family or neighbor group chat to check on your loved one each day. That way, if someone is busy, someone else can still reach out.
Heat can make anyone cranky or confused, and seniors might hide this. A daily short conversation about how they feel emotionally is just as important as checking their temperature.
- Plan “cool outings”
Help seniors enjoy summer without the heat stress by visiting air-conditioned places with safe, fun activities: a museum, a quiet coffee shop, a community center, or a shaded park with a breeze.
At Divine Favour Healthcare Staffing Inc., our caregivers can help build these routines, encourage healthy hydration, prepare fresh, cool foods, and keep seniors safe and happy all summer long. We are more than caregivers — we are companions.
Need support at home? Call us at 647-766-5394 or visit www.divinefavourhomecare.ca to book a free, no-pressure assessment.
We proudly serve Toronto, the GTA, Niagara Falls, Niagara Region, Niagara on the Lake, St.Catharines, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, Markham, and Richmond Hill, Ontario. Let us help bring peace of mind to your home and support your journey, wherever it leads