While they shouldn't exert themselves in the heat, there are plenty of opportunities for seniors to have some summertime fun.
With a little creativity and thoughtful planning, your loved one can enjoy the warmer weather.
Make new memories, and reinforce old ones.
Spending time outdoors can be healthy and refreshing.
Ask seniors their favorite way to spend summer years ago and re-enact that experience.
Pack a simple picnic and head to their beloved neighborhood park.
Pick up your loved one and bring them to a grandchild's baseball game.
Take a slow stroll by a nearby beach or lake.
Because many seniors are early to rise, you can catch the sunrise while enjoying a cup of coffee together.
Get up and get moving.
Seniors benefit from being physically active-the body stays in shape and the mind stays sharp.
Gentle activities like walking can make a difference in their overall health.
Avoid the hottest times of the day by getting the walk in by mid morning.
Swimming is easy on the joints, so find a pool with plenty of room to float around.
Check local pools for special adults-only swim times or visit local fitness facilities like the YMCA for senior sessions.
Find a hobby.
Give a loved one a reason to be outdoors.
If seniors have a green thumb, or find it therapeutic to dig in the dirt, encourage them to try gardening.
If a backyard garden isn't an option, consider helping out a local community garden or joining an area garden club.
Before heading outdoors, remind them to apply sunscreen and wear a hat to protect their skin from the sun's rays.
Once the garden starts producing, seniors can shell peas or snap beans or just savor the fruits of their labor.
Do they have decades of photos that could be organized? Commit to helping them learn to scrapbook so they may share the memories caught on film with family and friends by the end of summer.
Visit a museum or attend a cultural event.
As we age, there is a greater risk for dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Take a break from the warm weather with some indoor fun.
Explore a local museum or art gallery.
Buy tickets to an afternoon performing arts show or head to the theater and take in a movie.
Visit the library.
If reading is now difficult for your loved one, read to them or pick up audio books.
The air conditioning in each of these buildings will be a relief on a hot day!