Tips For Keeping Your Elderly Relatives Cool in Hot Weather

Tips For Keeping Your Elderly Relatives Cool in Hot Weather

While the lovely summer weather can be enjoyable for most, it’s important to remember that your elderly relatives might need some extra help. They can be particularly susceptible to the heat as their bodies often can’t regulate their body temperature as efficiently.

Here are some tips that can help keep them cool in these summer months.

Keep them hydrated

Keep them hydrated

Seniors often don’t recognise thirst, so it’s important that you help remind them and make cold water easily accessible for them, maybe putting in a water bottle. Drinks like coffee, tea and alcohol can have the opposite effect so try to limit these on hotter days.

Offer cooling snacks

Offer cooling snacks

If possible, provide them with ice lollies, lightly frozen grapes (cut up if necessary) and fruits and vegetables straight from the fridge can be great snacks to help cool them down.

Cover their windows

Cover their windows

By covering windows, and only opening blinds or curtains enough to let a breeze in through an open window (if it’s safe), can help block out the sun and prevent the room warming up too much and in turn, help keep them cooler.

Ensure they are wearing appropriate clothes

Ensure they are wearing appropriate clothes

Make sure they are wearing clothes that are loose fitting and lighter colours, made of natural fabrics like cotton and avoiding any synthetic materials. If they are outside, ensure they are wearing a hat that covers their head and face. Taking cooling baths or showers will also help.

Stay out of the sun

Stay out of the sun

Discourage them from being out in the sun, especially between 11am and 4pm when the sun is at its hottest. If they insist on going outside, maybe help them find some solid shade with a nice breeze and avoid any strenuous activities in those hours.

Try and cool their area

Try and cool their area

If possible, try and source a fan or air con unit with means for them to turn it on and off when they need it. Maybe place a thermometer in their room to keep an eye on the room temperature.

Recognise if they need help

Recognise if they need help

Elderly people have a higher risk of heat exhaustion during summer months, which can lead to heat stroke and in some cases can be life threatening. Our tips above will help keep this down, but you should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and what to if you, a loved one is experiencing it. According to the NHS, the signs of this include:

  • a headache
  • dizziness and confusion
  • loss of appetite and feeling sick
  • excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
  • cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
  • fast breathing or pulse
  • a high temperature of 38C or above
  • being very thirsty

If after 30 minutes they don’t feel better, call 999.

At Wessex Care, the wellbeing of our residents is of the upmost importance and our staff are all highly trained in all these areas. Please do contact us to see how we can support your loved ones through the summer months at our care homes in Salisbury. You can request a brochure and speak to our team about any questions you may have by calling our head office on 01722 336933 or sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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27 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2JA

01722 322494

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27 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
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01722 328315

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Manor Farm Road
Salisbury
Wilts
SP1 2RS

01722 341764

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Milford Manor Gardens
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2RN

01722 338652

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30 Fowlers Road
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP1 2QU

01722 331130

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11 Tollgate Road
Salisbury
SP1 2JA

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