Older adults may have a harder time fighting off illness during monsoon season, but they can still make sure they stay healthy and happy throughout the entire season. If you’re an elderly person, consider these tips on how to stay healthy during monsoon season to keep yourself feeling good in both body and mind.
Ensure Better Immunity
The monsoons bring water-borne diseases and germs that can cause problems for older adults with weakened immune systems. Wash your hands often and if you have any cuts or scrapes, keep them clean to avoid infections. You may think that these are simple tips, but they can make a big difference when it comes to your health. If you already have any existing health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, you need to be careful during monsoon season as you could face more serious health issues if infections occur.
Balanced Diet
The best way to stay healthy during the monsoon season is by having a balanced diet and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are less susceptible to being damaged from rain and moisture, meaning that you can still enjoy them even in the rain-soaked season. It’s also a good idea to eat smaller meals throughout the day so that your body has consistent energy; don’t overload on larger meals just because it’s monsoon season.
Use Warm Water
A cold shower is the most direct way to minimize your body temperature. Although it may sound counterintuitive, turning up the heat when you’re cold can lead to even worse conditions such as hypothermia or frostbite. When you get into a hot shower, your skin opens pores to release heat. If you aren’t ready for that blast of heat, your body temperature will rise—which is exactly what you want during monsoon season.
Going Out with Gear
Wearing shoes and clothing appropriate for particular weather can be difficult for older adults, who might not have as much flexibility. Follow these tips to stay safe during monsoon season: Always wear closed-toed shoes. Shoes with closed toes will protect your feet from submerged objects and open wounds caused by rusty nails and broken glass. Wear lightweight, dark-colored clothing. Since darker colors absorb more heat than lighter ones, they’ll keep you cooler in warm weather while protecting your skin from UV rays. In addition, avoid wearing light-colored fabrics since they tend to become transparent when wet.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is one of those things that may seem secondary to health but has a lot to do with keeping aging loved ones healthy and safe during monsoon season. When your home is messy and dirty, it can be hard to get around if you have mobility issues. If there are obstacles in your way, you might fall or get hurt trying to move around in your home. The laundry room can also become very cluttered and full of obstacles for aging loved ones who are having trouble seeing or don’t know their way around well. If a senior is no longer able to drive, keeping their car clean (and free of clutter) becomes important as well.
A Big ‘No’ to Street Food
As a precautionary measure, persons in their golden years must avoid eating street food during monsoon season as these carry germs that harm their immune system. A senior person’s immunity is weak, so if he or she eats food from outside that is not hygienic, there are chances of falling sick.
