May is National Water Safety Month and since the warm weather means pool time it’s a great time to review some water safety tips for seniors. Swimming is a fantastic exercise for seniors because it burns a lot of calories without a lot of stress on the joints. But, seniors need to take some precautions to make sure that they are being safe while they are in the water and while they are around the pool. Elder care can help with this.

Whether your senior loved one is taking advantage of a backyard pool or swimming with other seniors at a community pool these tips will help keep your senior parent safe this summer:

Wear Sturdy Shoes Around The Pool

If your senior loved one is swimming at a pool they should always wear very sturdy non-slip shoes until they get into the water. Often the area around a pool is very wet and slippery, especially the area around the pool ladder. Seniors should always enter and exit the pool by the stairs or a ramp if possible. It’s a good idea to invest in some swim shoes for seniors. Swim shoes slip on the feet like socks but they have sturdy grip bottoms that help prevent falls. Some pools may not allow them, but it’s worth checking to see if your local pool allows them for seniors.

Reapply Sunscreen Often

The water can wash off sunscreen quickly, even water-resistant sunscreen. So seniors should be reapplying sunscreen frequently to make sure that they are protected. They should also be using a high SPF sunscreen when they are going to be in the water. If your senior loved one has regular elder care a care provider can remind them to put on sunscreen at regular intervals. An elder care provider can also help them put on sunscreen to make sure they are fully protected.

Wear A Life Jacket

Life jackets aren’t just for boating. Seniors who are going to be swimming laps or swimming in a pool that has water deeper than the senior can stand-in should be wearing a life jacket even in the pool. It only takes a few minutes for a senior who has a cramp or who is tired to be unable to tread water or hold themselves up in the water and that can cause a serious risk of drowning. It’s best for seniors to err on the side of safety and wear a life jacket even if they are strong swimmers.

Wear Eye Protection

Your senior parent also should be wearing goggles in the pool. Seniors need to protect their eyes and the combination of chlorine and bright sun can do a number on a senior’s eyes. Tinted swim goggles are a must for any seniors that are going to be swimming in a pool outdoors. If your senior parent swims at an indoor pool at a gym or other facility they should still wear goggles but not tinted goggles to protect their eyes.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elder Care in Palo Alto, CA, and the surrounding area, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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