For some seniors, living their best lives means heading outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Sun protection offers a practical option for your care package. Start with sunscreen to encourage the recipient to protect their skin. Lip balm with SPF in it can also come in handy. Other sun protection ideas include sunglasses, hats and clothes with UV protection. Think about the styles your loved one wears to choose items they're more likely to use.
Whether indoors or outdoors, your loved one needs to stay hydrated, especially during the warmer months. Seniors have an increased risk of dehydration due to several factors. Older adults often don't notice signs of being thirsty as well as younger people, which can lead to drinking less water. Medication and changes in kidney functioning can also contribute to dehydration.
Encourage the recipient to drink up by including a few bottles of their favorite water. You can also include water flavoring products that make sipping their water more enjoyable. Another option is a reusable water bottle that's easy for them to carry so they always have water handy.
Including snacks in the senior care package helps the recipient power through those summer activities. If the weather is already getting warm, avoid anything that could melt, particularly chocolate. Some options include granola bars, nuts, trail mix, jerky and dried fruit. Consider what your loved one enjoys and find options to match those preferences.
It's important to keep cool as the temperature increases. Portable fans help your loved one do that. You can find a variety of battery-powered fans that work no matter where they go. Cooling towels also work well for this purpose. They create a cooling effect when you wet them with cold water.
Encourage your loved one to get out and explore by including tickets to activities, events or attractions. Their interests help you decide what to choose. Maybe the recipient used to love going to baseball games. Buying them tickets could help them rediscover the joy of watching the sport. If the weather's a little too hot for outdoor activities, buy them one-day tickets or an annual pass to a local museum or other attractions. Getting involved in various activities helps keep the senior recipient active and mentally engaged.
For seniors who prefer to stay indoors when it gets hot, various activity options fit well into a care package. Some ideas include:
Use what you know about your loved one's interests to pick entertainment options. You might also choose something different to encourage them to try new activities.
Summer often means being more active and spending time outdoors, which can lead to bug bites, sunburns and minor injuries. Prepare the recipient for those minor issues with some first aid supplies. This could include bandages, bug bite relief products and aloe vera to soothe sunburns. You could also include a mini first aid kit for them to keep on hand during their summer outings.
Photos from summers past add a personalized, sentimental touch to the care package. Find favorite photos of the recipient and their family and friends from summer activities. You can include an envelope of loose photos or turn them into a summer scrapbook with captions and embellishments. Another option is loading the photos onto a digital photo frame. This allows the recipient to receive multiple photos without them taking up lots of space.
Throw in a notebook or journal to give the recipient a place to document their warm-weather fun. You might choose a specific type of journal, such as a travel journal, if you know they have lots of summer trips planned. Another option that works year-round is a gratitude journal. This option can help your loved one focus on the positives, including the warming weather. A nice pen rounds out this addition.
The container for the care package can double as a warm-weather gift. Pack it all in a beach bag if your loved one lives near the water or simply likes large tote bags. A basket to hold indoor activities is also a functional option. If the recipient has grandchildren living nearby, place the items in a large sand pail so they can use it together at the beach or a playground.
