Summer Heat, Outdoor Activities, and How Assisted Living Keeps Seniors Safe

July 20, 2021 by ·

Summer is in full swing and that means intense heat is on the rise. Across much of the country, heat waves are now the norm, not the exception. For seniors at assisted living, they don’t have to remain indoors, locked away from the world, just because the temperatures are climbing quickly through the 70s, blasting through the 80s, and settling somewhere in the 90s.

They simply have to use reasonable precautions to stay safe. Many assisted living facilities take adequate precautions to protect their residents. They also understand the value that getting outside and enjoying the nice weather can have, not just emotionally and mentally, but also physically.

What types of outdoor activities might seniors participate in?

Assisted Living Daphne, AL: Senior Safety in the Heat

Not all assisted living facilities are the same. They don’t all offer the same type of activities. Yet, many of them do provide opportunities for residents to get outside, go for walks, enjoy a nice meal at a picnic table, and so forth.

One of the most important factors to remember is that elderly men and women may not have the same ability to keep cool as they did in their younger years. They may not perspire as readily and that keeps the body from cooling off as well as it might have in the past.

So, a reasonable precaution would be to encourage residents to get outside and participate in their activities during the earlier morning or late evening hours. In most cases, early morning is far better than late evening, unless the temperatures cool off adequately after four or 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

Responsive staff members make a difference.

Quality assisted living communities are going to employ experienced, responsive staff. These men and women will pay attention to not only the outdoor temperatures, but also residents who may go outside for a stroll or to sit and enjoy a nice meal or simply read a book in a chair.

They will check on their residents regularly, looking for any telltale signs of heat related illnesses or other problems developing.

They may very well have conversations with some residents to check on them. They will also pay close attention to the weather, especially if strong storms have been forecast. They will advise residents to get inside in the event of inclement weather and, during extreme heat waves, will advise residents to avoid going outside at the hottest time of the day.

Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but for seniors at assisted living, they still need to be responsible and diligent to be safe.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Daphne, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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