Article By: Sarah Lopez, D.O., Center Medical Lead at Conviva Guilbeau – A hot and muggy climate is typical of summertime in Texas. And this season is already shaping up to hit blistering highs across the Lone Star State. Hopefully, we won’t beat the state’s highest temperature on record, which was 113°F in 1980.
With rising, prolonged temperatures starting earlier in the spring and lasting longer into the fall, it’s critical for everyone to take precautions and seek shelter from the sun. This is especially true for seniors, who are more vulnerable to developing heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Conviva Care Centers in San Antonio is helping seniors stay cool this summer with its Beat the Heat program. Six centers are offering extended hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for any seniors 55+ to stop in and enjoy the air conditioning, join activities, and enjoy cool water and refreshments. During the hot summer, seniors will be able to enjoy various activities at the centers including movie screenings, bingo, arts and crafts, and more. It’s a great opportunity for area seniors to Beat the Texas Heat.
To make sure you stay cool, here are six tips to keep yourself safe this summer:
- Maintain sustained air flow in your living space to keep cool. Use your air conditioner; but if you don’t have an AC, run fans. During the day, limit the amount of sunlight entering your space by closing shades and/or curtains; and at night, if you don’t have or want to use AC, open windows to allow fresh air and cooler breezes to flow through your home.
- Hydrate regularly to stay cool and offset your body’s water loss from sweat. Water is the best hydration, but other cool beverages in moderation can help. Seek your doctor’s advice on the best drinks for your personal needs. Regular physical activity and healthy diets are important for healthy aging. However, the body’s basic need for water is often overlooked, resulting in dehydration. The best sources of hydration are water, replacement drinks for athletes, herbal teas, lemon water and vegetable broth.
- Choose indoor sites for family outings and gatherings. Examples include movie theaters, museums and nearby Conviva wellness centers.
- Need to be outdoors? Then be sure you plan your time outside closer to dawn or dusk when the sun’s effects are more subdued, and wear tan or white light-weight clothing that doesn’t absorb much heat. Stay indoors, if possible, closer to midday when the heat is at its peak.
- Know your limits. If you feel like you are overheating, stop what you are doing immediately. Continuing may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Signs to watch for include fatigue, extreme thirst, headache and muscle aches. If you experience any of these symptoms, go inside to cool down, take a cool shower or place a wet towel on your neck, and rest.
- Don’t forget to protect your skin and eyes from harmful UV rays. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and reapply every two hours; and wear a hat and/or sunglasses.
The centers offering the Beat the Heat special hours and activities are:
- Conviva De Leon
- Conviva Greco
- Conviva Guadalupe
- Conviva Floresville
- Conviva Legacy Place
- Conviva New Braunfels
ABOUT CONVIVA
Conviva continues to reinvent excellence in healthcare by delivering meaningful patient relationships focused on producing optimal health outcomes. Together with its sister brand, CenterWell Senior Primary Care, there are more than 250 centers in 12 states. Conviva operates convenient locations throughout Texas (Corpus Christi, El Paso and San Antonio) and Florida (Broward County, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County and Tampa/Gulf Coast). The vast community of Conviva Care Centers is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of more than 300 primary care physicians and over 800 affiliated specialists. They provide a wide range of vital healthcare services that patients require daily, including the advantages of senior care activity centers and 24/7 on-call providers. To learn more, visit ConvivaCareCenters.com, or call (833) CONVIVA.
