Sun Protection Is Essential For Seniors
According to some studies, as many as 50% of seniors over the age of 65 will get skin cancer at least once. September is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and it’s a great time for you and your Companion Care at Home provider to learn more about seniors, the sun, and what they can do to prevent skin cancer.
Even though seniors do have a high risk for skin cancer the good news is that skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. If your senior loved one develops good sun protection habits they may be able to avoid getting skin cancer.
The best things that seniors can do to protect themselves from the sun are:
Wear A High-Quality Sunscreen All Year Long
Wearing sunscreen isn’t enough to protect your senior parent. They need to be wearing a high-quality sunscreen that will provide the best protection from the sun’s UV rays. And sunscreen should be worn by seniors every time they go outside, even in the winter. The sun’s UV rays can be even more damaging in the winter if they are reflecting off of snow. The sunscreen that your senior loved one uses should have an SPF of 15 or higher. It should also be a broad-spectrum spray-on sunscreen.
There are lots of different choices when it comes to sunscreen so your senior parent can choose a style of sunscreen that appeals to them. They prefer a spray on sunscreen to a cream, for example. All that matters is that it’s a sunscreen they will use. If your senior parent has a companion care at home provider the companion care at home provider can help your senior parent remember to put on sunscreen daily.
Dress Appropriately
When the summer comes everyone wants to stay cool. However, wearing shorts and tank tops can leave a lot of skin exposed to the sun. Seniors should dress for hot sunny weather by wearing hats to protect their faces. They should also wear light layers of clothing in natural materials like cotton or linen. Natural fibers will be soft and will breathe better than synthetic materials so that seniors can cover their skin and also stay cool.
It’s a good idea for seniors to keep some extra hats, a light overshirt, and other protective clothing in their vehicle or in a take-along bag when they go out. That way if they lose their hat or leave their shirt somewhere they will have extras. It’s also a good idea to keep some sunglasses and sunscreen in the bag too.
Avoid Being Outside During The Hottest Part Of The Day
Another way that seniors can protect themselves from the most brutal rays of the sun is to avoid going outside during the time of the day when the sun is the most intense. Usually, that’s from around 1 PM to around 4 PM. Seniors should plan on taking walks, playing golf, gardening, or doing other outdoor activities either before lunch or after dinner. That way they can enjoy the cooler air and also get more protection from the sun.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Companion Care at Home in Altamonte Springs, FL, please contact the caring staff at Elle-Marie's Homecare, LLC today. 321-344-0871
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/articles/older-adults-protect-skin-sun.htm