Whilst many of us may enjoy the warmer weather, sunbathing and topping up our tans, or spending time soaking up the sunshine, for some of us it isn’t quite as pleasant.

For older people, a heatwave that makes the rest of us uncomfortable, can prove to be fatal. So, how can you ensure that your elderly relative stays safe during the hot weather?

Always avoid the hottest times of the day

Whilst it may feel that the entire day is hot and uncomfortable, there are definitely going to be some parts of the day that are worse than others. It is important that they try to avoid leaving the house during the hottest times of the day. In the most part this is around 11am to 3pm, however, if you take a look at the weather forecast, you may find that this varies.

Encourage them to drink

It can be hard to encourage your relative to drink water during the day, however, this incredibly important. Everyone needs to ensure that they stay hydrated during the hot weather, however, for an elderly person, particularly if they have dementia or similar then you are going to need to make sure that you encourage them.

Pick out clothes that are loose and lightweight

What you wear during the hot weather can be hugely helpful, of course, you are not going to want to make your relative feel like a child by picking out all of their clothes, however, you may need to point them towards the right clothes for the weather. You need to aim for loose and lightweight clothes that are breathable and light coloured, linen and cotton should always be the fabric of choice.

Keep windows open

Creating a breeze through a house is a great way to try and stay cool in the hot weather, however, it can feel that there simply is no air at all. This doesn’t mean that you should shut the windows. Instead, keep them open as much as possible. This will help the air to circulate through and keep the room feeling fresh. That said, if you find that the room is getting hot due to the sunshine, then you may want to consider shutting the curtains to keep out the sunshine.

Keeping your elderly relative safe during the hot weather is important. Not only will they find it hard to regulate their own temperature, but they may also be on medication that can cause their temperature to fluctuate. It is important that you keep an eye on them and ensure that they are not only wearing the right clothes, but that they are drinking plenty and making sure that they keep themselves cool and hopefully, they can actually enjoy the warmer weather as much as they can.