Summer is just about here, bringing sun, fun, and a few challenges if you’re in the aging-gracefully category (and we are 😉). For senior adults, good summer prep can make the season much more enjoyable by avoiding both predictable and unpredictable snags. To help you out, we’ve provided a summer checklist that covers common seasonal struggles for active senior adults.
Home Prep
What better place to start this list than in your home? Here are a few domestic tasks you’ll want to mark “done” early on.
HVAC: Summer is all about the heat, and we love it. Until we don’t. The older we get, the harder extreme heat can be on our bodies. And with record-breaking summer temps becoming the norm, you can’t afford to have your air-conditioning go out. Make an appointment to have your HVAC system thoroughly checked out and tuned up before summer.
Gardening: Excited about your flower beds and vegetable garden? Spreading mulch, weeding flower beds, or planting in pots are great ways to get some sun and stay active without overdoing it during the hot months. That said, make a plan to get in all the prep and planting you can early on. No one wants to be mulching under the blazing July sun.
Your closet: Here’s a fun one! Review your closet to make sure you’ve got the summer wear you need to thrive in heat. Think sunglasses, hats, and nonrestrictive clothes with good coverage that are made of breathable fabrics like cotton, rayon, and linen. Don’t forget cooling shoes that support your feet properly on your summer adventures.
Health and Wellness
With summer’s many delights come a few dangers to your health. Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you can keep your health flourishing with these planning tips.
Hydration: Proper hydration is paramount to enjoying your summer safely. Make sure you’ve got a refillable water bottle that’s easy to take with you when you leave the house. If you have trouble remembering to hydrate, set reminders on a device you keep with or near you.
Heat protection: When the mercury is running high, try not to run errands during the hottest part of the day (3:00 pm–6:00 pm). If you need to go out during that window, consider buying a portable fan or a mister to keep yourself cool. When extreme temperatures threaten, know your community’s plan for heat waves or power outages, and identify public cooling centers you can visit if needed.
Sun prep: Skin cancer is no fun. Whatever the temperature is, if you’re out in the sun, protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays with a good sunscreen and reapply as directed. Make sure to carry protection such as a hat or umbrella as well during peak sun hours (10:00 am–2:00 pm).
Exercise: Revise your exercise routine for summer. A high heat index makes the body less resilient to exertion, and the cascading effects of heat exhaustion can sneak up on you and spiral downward quickly. Exercise indoors or in the cooler hours of the day, and pull back your intensity to respect your body’s limits.
Medication review: Did you know that some medications interact poorly with the heat? Make an appointment with your healthcare professional to review any medications you’re taking and discuss any unique challenges your health may face during summer’s heat.
Finances
Summertime exerts a few unique pressures on your pocketbook. Keep your finances in the black by accounting for the following budgetary hurdles.
Utilities: Make space in your budget for higher utility costs during the summer. Air-conditioning takes a lot of power to run. Plus, energy rates increase due to higher summer demands. If you’re watering plants or filling a pool, you’ll also get hit with a higher water bill. Don’t get caught flat-footed.
Travel: Whether you’re headed off to Cancun or hosting friends or family in your home, summer travel plans can eat up your extra cash. You know it’s coming, so know what you can afford before the moment arrives. If you’re traveling abroad, consider investing in travel insurance to cover unexpected costs like cancellations or medical emergencies.
Fun
It’s not all about fending off troubles! You can also prepare yourself to have your most exciting summer ever. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
Learn a new skill: Consider taking a local gardening class, attending a photography workshop, or learning a new recipe to enjoy fresh summer produce. Another idea: sharpen up your technology skills to stay better connected with friends and family—even when you’re stuck at home due to high temps.
Volunteer your time: Many organizations need help during the summer. Volunteering can be a great way to stay active, socialize, and give back to the community.
Plan regular social outings: When the heat’s not overwhelming, there’s nothing better than a summer outing with friends. The season will fly by before you know it, so start off early making plans to lunch with friends, visit the park, or enjoy local summer festivities. And don’t worry too much about your budget. You can find plenty of free or low-cost fun available! Check community calendars or senior center listings for classes, lectures, or day trips that might be of interest.
Find fun indoors: If you need to stay inside out of the heat, you can still have fun alone or with friends. Stock up on crossword puzzles, board games, adult coloring books, the newest novels, or the latest video games—whatever works for you and yours.
For older adults, summer can be a mixed blessing. But with the proper planning, you can make the season one to remember in all the best ways.
An even faster way to cross off items on this summer to-do list? Check out the independent senior living apartments in our active adult community, Prime Carolina Coast. When you become a resident, we take on your summer checklist for you. Whether it’s managing home maintenance, utility bills, or ways to have fun indoors, our services and amenities have you covered. Plus, you’ll get a whole community of close neighbors to have summer fun with! If you’re interested in learning more about our thriving senior living community, contact us. We’d love to chat!