When the summer weather hits there is a huge demand for power to power air conditioners. Sometimes the electrical grid just can’t keep out and there are power outages. Intense summer storms can also cause the power to go out. For seniors who are aging in place losing power can be a big problem. As temperatures climb seniors may struggle to breathe or not be affected by heatstroke.
Senior home care can help make sure your senior loved one is safe in the event of a power outage and a care provider can even get your senior loved one out of the home to a cooling center if necessary. But even with senior home care, there are some things your senior loved one can do to stay cool at home if the power goes out like:
Use Ice Packs
Use the ice that is melting in the freezer to make ice packs or use some of those bags of frozen vegetables as makeshift ice packs. Be sure to put a towel, a tee-shirt, or some kind of fabric between your senior loved one’s skin and the ice or ice pack. Ice packs on the back of the neck and the pulse points on the wrists will help seniors stay cool and comfortable if the power is out. It’s a good idea to keep a gel cooling pad in the freezer because that will hold the cold for quite a long time and can be used as an ice pack if the power goes out.
Use Battery Operated Fans
Battery-operated fans are a smart investment. Make sure that they have fresh batteries and are stored in a place where your senior loved one or a home care provider can easily get them. Even though these fans are usually small they do a pretty good job moving the air and helping people cool off. Make sure there are extra batteries in the house as well to power the fans.
Hang Wet Sheets
This requires help from you or from a care provider because wet sheets can be heavy. But put a plain flat sheet in the bathtub and soak it in cold water. After wringing it out so it doesn’t drip hang it on a drying rack or a makeshift line in the living room, bedroom, or whatever room people are staying in. As the water evaporates and the sheet dries it will keep the room cool. This is a trick that has been used to cool off homes for thousands of years.
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated by drinking cool water will help keep your senior loved one cool even when it’s hot inside and the temperature is climbing. To make it more enticing to drink water add fruit or other treats to the water to make it more flavorful. An infusion pitcher is an inexpensive and easy way to infuse water with fruit or cucumber to make it even more refreshing.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Home Care in Sterling, VA, please contact the caring staff at Decena Home Care, LLC today. 571-508-7144
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