Being outside in the fresh air benefits all ages. For family members providing senior care, it’s important to remember that time spend outside should also include protective measures to prevent sun burns and excessive sun exposure. In celebration of National Facial Protection Month, you need to make sure your the senior in your care always has these items with them every time you go outside.
Skin Protection for the Face and Lips
The Skin Cancer Foundation states that even on a cloudy day 80 percent of a sun’s UV rays make their way through the cloud layers. Broad spectrum sunscreen must always be worn when you and your elderly loved one spend time outside. A higher SPF is better, and you need to remember to protect the lips too. Lip cancer is possible and is more likely in males with fair skin. In addition, in a study of more than 2,000 patients, the Skin Cancer Foundation found that the risk of developing a cancerous lesion on the lower lip is 12 times more common than developing a lesion on an upper lip. Don’t forget the lips when applying protective sunscreen.
Sunglasses With UVA and UVB Protection
The eyelid and eye are not immune to risk of damage from sun exposure. UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids and certain cancers within the eye. Sun exposure also increases the risk of macular degeneration.
It’s important for you to make sure your senior parent has a pair of sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Take a close look at packaging when you’re shopping for sunglasses together. The sunglasses must protect against UVA and UVB rays and cover the entire area of the eye and upper and lower eyelids. When running errands during your senior care routine, make sure your parent has the chance to try on different pairs of sunglasses to find a pair that fits well and is comfortable.
Wide-Brimmed Hat
The final part of keeping the face protected during outdoor senior care activities is a wide-brimmed hat. While sunscreen and sunglasses do their part at protection, a wide-brimmed sunhat offers that extra level of protection. The hat should fit comfortably and have a tie to keep the hat in place on a windy day.
Make protecting the face from UV rays part of your daily getting-ready senior care routine. A few minutes spent indoors making sure protective measures are in place goes a long way in preventing skin cancer and excessive aging of the skin.
Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/10/living/guide-to-sun-safety/
http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/lip-cancer-not-uncommon
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/for-your-eyes/how-to-select-the-perfect-pair-of-sunglasses
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Senior Care Services in Matthews NC, please call the caring staff at BlueDot Cares today, (704) 586-9248.
Jimmy Clonaris is Managing Partner at BlueDot Cares, where he oversees operations, caregiver standards, and service delivery for in-home care across the organization. With more than 19 years of experience in healthcare and over a decade with BlueDot, he has been directly involved in building and scaling care programs that support individuals aging at home.
His work focuses on the practical side of care delivery. This includes caregiver training and oversight, care plan consistency, and coordination with families and local healthcare professionals. Jimmy is actively involved in ensuring that care is not only well-structured on paper, but executed reliably in the home.
Over the course of his career, he has worked with thousands of families navigating care decisions, from short-term recovery support to long-term in-home care. His approach is grounded in clear communication, accountability, and building systems that allow caregivers to deliver consistent, high-quality support.
Under his leadership, BlueDot Cares has grown to support tens of thousands of families while maintaining a locally operated, relationship-driven model. He continues to focus on strengthening the team, improving care standards, and ensuring families have a dependable partner when care is needed.
