In this guest blog, Rosie Buckley from Content ‘n’ Coffee shares practical tips to help people living with dementia stay safe, comfortable and connected during the summer months.
It’s estimated that around 982,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, and this number is expected to rise to 1.4 million in 2040. Summer offers more opportunities to spend time outdoors, but it can also create additional challenges for people living with dementia that can affect wellbeing and safety. With small changes, families and carers can help ensure those living with dementia can enjoy the warm weather.
Stay Hydrated
Hot weather can increase the risk of dehydration, which can lead to tiredness, dizziness, and confusion, as well as physical problems like UTIs and constipation. However, people living with dementia may forget to drink regularly, not realise they’re thirsty, and might have trouble communicating that they want a drink.
Family members and carers can make a difference by:
- Instead of waiting for them to ask, offer drinks throughout the day
- Make sure water or their preferred drink is always in sight and easy to reach
- Offer foods with higher water content, like melon, cucumber and strawberries.
- Ensure drinks are included in daily routines such as meals or medication times.
Stay Cool During Hot Weather
The hypothalamus helps regulate body temperature, but dementia can sometimes damage this area. This can make it harder for the body to maintain a stable temperature and cause it to struggle with natural cooling responses, such as sweating. Communication difficulties can also make it hard to express discomfort.
Here are some tips for keeping cool:
- Wearing lightweight clothing
- Sitting in shaded areas when outside
- Closing the curtains when temperatures are at their peak
- Maintaining good ventilation in the home
- Planning outdoor activities for cooler times of the day
Understanding and preparing for unplanned adventures
More time spent outdoors can increase the likelihood of confusion. This is when someone with dementia becomes confused about their whereabouts and walks around in a way that could put them at risk of becoming lost or unsafe.
Helpful precautions can include:
- Ensuring they carry identification when out and about, such as medical ID jewellery or an information card
- Keeping recent photographs available in case they become separated
- Considering location-tracking technology where appropriate and agreed.
Maintain Familiar Routines
Consistency can offer reassurance for people living with dementia, but summer can create changes in routine such as an increase in visitors and holidays. For someone with dementia, these changes can feel unsettling.
Keeping regular times for meals, medication and rest can help create a sense of stability. For changes that are unavoidable, introduce them calmly and as gradually as possible. Explaining them in simple and reassuring ways can help the person feel less uncertain.
Make Outdoor Spaces Safer
Gardens and outdoor spaces can offer a range of benefits during the summer months, such as gentle movement, relaxation, and time with others. A few small checks can help ensure these outdoor spaces remain safe.
This can include:
- Removing trip hazards, like uneven surfaces
- Ensuring pathways remain clear and easy to follow
- Providing shaded seating areas for regular rest
- Making sure outdoor lighting is suitable for evening use
Helpful Tips
To reduce confusion, discomfort and anxiety, avoid doing these things:
- Assuming someone will recognise when they’re thirsty or overheated
- Making sudden changes to their routines without explanation or preparation
- Filling the day with too many activities or outings
- Relying only on verbal reminders without visual cues or gentle prompts
- Ignoring small changes in behaviour, which may be early signs of discomfort or
Plan Ahead for Summer Trips
Some preparation before an outing can help reduce stress and allow people living with dementia to enjoy themselves. This can include bringing essential items such as medication, water, snacks and sun protection to help avoid running into problems. Planning to take regular breaks, leaving extra time, and choosing familiar or quieter locations can also help make summer trips feel more manageable.
At Dementia Adventure, we believe that a dementia diagnosis shouldn’t mean an end to getting outdoors, trying new things or enjoying meaningful experiences. Through our supported holidays, Green Letter Days, walks, training and support services, we help people living with dementia and their companions stay connected to nature, one another and the activities they enjoy.
To find out more about our holidays, day experiences and other support, explore the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly team: 01245 237548
This guest blog was written by Rosie Buckley from Content ‘n’ Coffee.
Contact Rosie: rosie.buckley@contentncoffee.com
