Protecting Your Parent from the Sun

Summer’s not over yet and fall is right around the corner. There’s still plenty of time for outdoor fun and it’s still important to make sure that the loved one you’re caring for is protected from the harmful rays of the sun while enjoying the great outdoors. 

It’s important to know that while everyone needs protection from harmful rays, your elderly loved one needs it even more. So while you may feel you can put away your sunscreen when the temps start to dip a bit, that’s not the case for your senior. That’s because as a person ages, their skin loses fat and water content and becomes thinner, allowing UV light to penetrate more deeply, so not only can they sunburn more quickly, it can be deeper. 

Here are a few ways you and your senior care provider can help protect your elderly loved one from getting too much sun.

Dress appropriately

What your parent wears makes a difference. If you know your elderly parent is going to be spending a lot of time in direct sun, make sure her clothes help protect her. One of the top considerations should be on the top of her head. A hat with a wide brim won’t only protect the scalp (which is often more exposed than ever due to thinning hair) but it will protect her face and neck as well. Have your senior care provider make sure she has her hat with her whenever she’s going out in the sun, even if it’s just a stroll around a local garden. 

Long sleeves and long pants can help protect the skin as well. Wearing loose-fitting clothes will allow her body to get the air circulation it needs to keep cool while also protecting her from the dangerous UV rays. 

Sunglasses are also an important protective device. Your elderly parent’s eyes also need protection from the sun, so encourage her to wear her sunglasses when out. If she needs prescription glasses to see, she can order prescription sunglasses or purchase sunglasses that will wrap around her regular eyeglasses. 

Avoid those peak sun hours

While you can’t always determine when an outdoor event will happen, if it has longer hours, try to attend it with your parent either in the early morning or evening hours. If you have a senior care provider who takes your parent to events, look at their schedule to see if they can plan a time that isn’t mid-day when the sun is strongest. 

Find shade wherever you can

If it’s a picnic you’re on, find a picnic table in the shade. If it’s an outdoor concert you’re going to attend, place your lawn chair in the shade of a thick tree (and then move it as the sun moves). Even if you’re attending something that doesn’t have a lot of shade (like a county fair or farmer’s market), take breaks in the shade whenever you can to cut back on the amount of sun exposure. 

There are still plenty of wonderful events to get out and enjoy this time of year. Helping your parent be safe in the sun will make sure the fun stays safe.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Care in Elk Grove, CA please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today. (916) 897-4752