While we may still be in Spring, the weather is starting to become that bit warmer for us and the sun is starting to make more appearances. This can be fantastic for older people as the warmth of the sun has lots of benefits like helping with musculoskeletal pain and increasing joint mobility.

That said, the sun can be dangerous for all of us if we over expose ourselves to it so it’s important to understand what we can do to make sure that our elderly loved ones stay safe in the sun. 

At Heaton House, we have a wonderful garden that many of our residents like to spend time in when the weather is nice. While the sun is lovely, we always make sure we take the right precautions to make sure everyone stays safe. 

Overexposure to the sun can cause all sorts of problems; from sunburn and skin damage to heat stroke. While everyone can suffer from sun overexposure, the elderly can be more prone to these issues and find it hard to take the right precautions for themselves. 

So how can we help them stay safe in the sun? Read on to find out what our top tips are for keeping elderly people (and, of course ourselves!) safe.

Skin care

Many older people have very delicate skin, so it’s important to keep it covered or at least make sure the high factor sun cream is regularly kept topped up. The NHS recommends that sun cream is applied every two hours, something that many forget to do. It’s also important to make sure that the SPF is at least 20 or higher to ensure proper protection.

Children sitting on the lawn and residents with their relatives sat on chairs under parasols, enjoying the sun

At Heaton House, our carers always have sun cream close at hand and are more than happy to help our residents apply it if needed.

Shade

Sitting in the shade is a great way to still enjoy the warmth of the sun, without being directly exposed to it. We have brightly coloured parasols at Heaton House,  providing much needed shade and ultimately keeping the direct sunlight out. That being said, it’s a misconception that being in the shade means that your skin isn’t exposed to the sun’s rays. This isn’t the case and so it’s always best to make sure that sun cream is applied even if your loved one is going to be sitting in the shade. 

In the photo above, you can see some of our colourful parasols up on a beautiful sunny day. They provide helpful spots of shade around the garden and, as they’re rainbow coloured, add a bright splash of colour too!

Sun hats

Sun hats can not only look great, they can protect the head, face , neck and ears of the wearer. Making them a great accessory to wear on a sunny day. What’s more, all hats are different and we like making sure that the residents that do wear them have found one that they like.

Photo shows Heaton House resident in the garden with her sun hat on speaking to one of the carers

Different styles of sun hat give different protection so it’s worth considering which areas your loved one is most sensitive and choose a hat that protects those areas. For example; some hats offer full neck and shoulder protection while others offer more face and ear protection.

Plenty of water and salty snacks

Being protected by sun rays is important, but it’s just as important to make sure your loved one stays hydrated. 

Spending time in the sun means that you’ll be warmer than usual, causing fluids to be lost through sweat. Not only do you lose water through sweat, you lose salt too and so encouraging your loved ones to have a few crisps or nuts while outside can help to keep their salt levels in the right place too. 

After a day in the sun, we sometimes have fish and chips which are not only delicious but also a little salty too so help to replenish any salt lost during the day.

We’re hoping that we’ll be able to enjoy lots of sun this summer to make use of our wonderful garden and have fun days out. Our home is in a great location so there’s plenty of things to do within a short distance. From garden centres and beach visits to shopping and coffee shop trips. Whatever we’re up to, we make sure to have fun and keep safe.