Summer Safety for Older Adults and Loved Ones with Serious Illness

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Summer often brings more time outside, more family gatherings, and more opportunities to enjoy simple moments together. But for older adults and people living with serious illness, the season can also bring added risks. Heat, sun exposure, dehydration, fatigue, medication side effects, and changes in routine can all affect comfort and safety.

July is UV Safety Month, making it a helpful time for families and caregivers to consider how summer conditions may affect a loved one’s care. Whether someone is receiving hospice, palliative care, or home health services, the goal is not to take away meaningful summer moments. Instead, it is to make those moments safer, more comfortable, and easier to enjoy.

As we age, the body may have a harder time adjusting to high temperatures. Older adults may not feel thirst as quickly, may become overheated more easily, or may have health conditions that make heat and sun exposure more difficult to tolerate. Some medications can also increase sensitivity to sunlight or affect the body’s ability to stay cool.

For someone living with a serious or chronic illness, even a short amount of time in the heat can lead to exhaustion, dizziness, confusion, weakness, nausea, or shortness of breath. These symptoms can also increase the risk of falls or make existing symptoms feel worse.

Summer safety is especially important for patients who spend time in a wheelchair, use oxygen, have limited mobility, are recovering from a hospital stay, or depend on caregivers for daily support. In these situations, planning can make the difference between a peaceful afternoon and an avoidable health concern.

When families think about UV safety, sunscreen is often the first thing that comes to mind. Sunscreen is important, but it is only one part of protection.

For older adults and seriously ill patients, UV safety may also mean choosing shade, limiting time outside during the hottest part of the day, wearing lightweight protective clothing, using a wide-brimmed hat, and protecting the eyes with sunglasses. These small steps can help reduce sunburn, skin irritation, overheating, and discomfort.

Caregivers should also remember to check areas that are easy to miss, such as the ears, neck, hands, scalp, and the tops of the feet. For loved ones who sit near windows, spend time on porches, or travel to appointments, sun exposure can still happen even during everyday routines.

For hospice patients, summer safety is closely tied to comfort and quality of life. A family cookout, porch visit, or quiet time in the garden may still be meaningful, but the care plan may need gentle adjustments.

Hospice teams can help families think through what is realistic and comfortable for their loved one. This may include planning outdoor time earlier in the morning or later in the evening, keeping visits shorter, using cooling towels or fans, offering fluids or mouth care as appropriate, and watching for changes in breathing, alertness, or pain.

The goal is not to avoid summer altogether. It is to preserve the moments that matter while reducing unnecessary strain. Sometimes that means moving the celebration indoors, setting up a shaded chair near the door, or creating a quiet space where a loved one can rest when the day becomes too much.

Palliative care supports people living with serious illness at any stage, and summer can bring unique symptom management concerns. Heat and sun exposure may worsen fatigue, nausea, swelling, shortness of breath, pain, or dizziness. For some patients, summer activity can also make it harder to manage medications, hydration, appetite, and sleep.

A palliative care team can help patients and families understand which symptoms need attention and how to plan around them. This may include discussing safe activity levels, reviewing medication side effects, preparing for travel or family events, and creating a plan for when symptoms change.

Families should not wait until a loved one is in distress to ask for guidance. If summer heat seems to worsen symptoms, or if a loved one is more tired, confused, weak, or uncomfortable than usual, it may be time to check in with the care team.

For patients receiving home health care, summer safety often connects to healing, strength, and independence. Someone recovering from surgery, illness, or a hospital stay may be more vulnerable to dehydration, falls, fatigue, or skin concerns during warmer months.

Home health clinicians can help assess the home environment and daily routines. They may offer guidance on safe movement, hydration reminders, medication routines, wound care considerations, and ways to prevent falls when patients feel weak or overheated.

Simple changes can help. Keep walkways clear, place water within reach when appropriate, ensure commonly used rooms stay cool, encourage rest between activities, and avoid unnecessary outdoor errands during peak heat. For patients working toward recovery, pacing matters. Summer plans should support progress, not set it back.

Caregivers should pay close attention to changes that may signal heat-related stress or dehydration. These can include:

• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Headache
• Nausea
• Confusion or changes in alertness
• Muscle cramps
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Less frequent urination or darker urine
• Skin that feels unusually hot, dry, flushed, or clammy

If symptoms are sudden, severe, or concerning, seek medical help right away. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can include confusion, fainting, very high body temperature, or loss of consciousness.

Before heading outside or planning a summer activity, caregivers can ask:

• Is there shade or an indoor place nearby to cool down?
• Are we avoiding the hottest part of the day?
• Does my loved one have sunscreen, protective clothing, a hat, or sunglasses?
• Are fluids available if they are allowed and appropriate?
• Is oxygen equipment, medication, or mobility support protected from heat?
• Is there a quiet place to rest if they become tired?
• Do we know who to call if symptoms change?
• Can the activity be shortened, moved indoors, or simplified?

Summer safety does not have to be complicated. Often, the best plan is the one that makes it easier to say yes to meaningful moments while still honoring the body’s limits.

At Solaris, we understand that care does not pause when the seasons change. Our hospice, palliative care, and home health teams help patients and families navigate the practical details of daily care, including how weather, activity, routines, and symptoms may affect safety and comfort.

If you are caring for an older adult or loved one with a serious illness, you do not have to figure out every decision alone. A little planning, a few thoughtful precautions, and the right support can help make summer feel safer, calmer, and more comfortable for everyone involved.

To learn more about Solaris Healthcare services, call 888-376-5274 or visit solarisfamily.com.