Summer Safety for Seniors

Beat the Heat

Older adults are especially vulnerable to the summer’s heat and humidity due to physical changes that come with aging, chronic health conditions and the side effects of many medications.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is one of the leading causes of heat-related health issues. To stay well hydrated, older adults should drink 6-8 glasses of non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids a day. Warning signs of dehydration include weakness, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion and passing out. Seniors should call 911 right away if these symptoms occur. A personal alert system with a wearable pendant gives seniors who live alone an easy way to call for help in case of a medical emergency.

Seniors should spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned spaces, especially on hot and humid days when the temperature climbs above 90°F. Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed during the day, use fans and only open windows when things cool down at night.

During a heat wave, the A/C should be set between 70°F to 74°F. A programmable thermostat with a handheld wireless remote control makes it easy for seniors to adjust the temperature without having to get up. To assist seniors living alone, install a thermostat that can be adjusted remotely by family members or caregivers via telephone or the Internet.

Exercise Smartly

During the height of the summer, seniors should avoid staying outdoors for long periods and make sure to drink even more water than usual when exercising. Consider doing any outdoor exercise earlier in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is not at its peak. On really hot days, seniors should avoid exercising and other strenuous outdoor activities.

Practice Water Safety

Swimming is one of the best ways for seniors to stay healthy, fit and cool during the summer months. Unfortunately, about 10 people die every day from unintentional drowning. Although most victims are small children and non-swimmers, seniors with conditions that affect their vision, judgment, balance or coordination such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, seizure disorders or a heart condition are particularly vulnerable and at risk of drowning.

To provide a safe environment for seniors and swimmers of all ages, its important to be aware of and practice the CDCs water safety guidelines. There is also a range of water safety equipment that can help keep seniors safe around swimming pools, lakes and beaches. Consider using one or all of the following:

Gate Alarm

A pool gate alarm is an excellent way to prevent seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s from wandering dangerously close to the pool area. A gate alarm sounds a siren when the door or gate to the pool area is opened. For double protection, some pool gate alarms transmit to a remote receiver and a home security system, ensuring that the alarm will be heard in the house or remotely.

A pool alarm is one of the best ways to protect frail adults and non-swimmers from accidentally drowning. If a person enters the water unexpectedly, a pool alarm will sound a loud siren. There are pool alarms designed for above-ground swimming pools as well as in-ground swimming pools that use a variety of detection technologies to determine if someone has fallen into the water. This article details our recommendations for pool alarms, based on a seniors lifestyle or living situation.

Pool Surveillance Cameras

To keep an eye on a seniors pool area from afar, family members can install an outdoor surveillance camera like the Pool WatchDog Swimming Pool Safety Camera that allows them to view streaming live video of activity around the pool on a smartphone, computer or tablet from anywhere. When someone enters the pool area, Pool WatchDog also sends email or text message alerts.  We recommend using a pool surveillance camera in combination with a pool alarm not instead of a pool alarm.