Summers in McKinney aren’t exactly mild. The gorgeous Texas sun goes from sparkling to glaring once June hits, which makes it hard for anyone to enjoy time outside during the dog days. 

That goes double for seniors, who already face additional barriers in warmer weather. Certain conditions and medication can make it harder for older adults to stay hydrated, regulate their body heat or tolerate time in the sun. It’s just plain harder to help seniors enjoy summer. 

Luckily, McKinney knows what to do during the warmer months, and we’re home to plenty of resources to make summer more fun for all ages—especially seniors.

How to Help Seniors Enjoy Summer in McKinney, TX

To keep the seniors in your life active and enjoying their summer, start by helping to keep them cool and comfortable, then move on to finding warm weather fun. Here’s how to do it:

1. Keep Their Home Cool and Comfortable

Summers in McKinney often involve a lot of time indoors, especially for anyone who’s heat-sensitive. With your loved one likely spending more time at home indoors, make sure their home is at a comfortable temperature—and stays that way.

Our summer weather can put even the strongest of cooling systems to the test, with temperatures sometimes hovering in the high 90s or low triple digits for weeks at a time. Unfortunately, that’s right when HVAC systems tend to break down; when they’ve been working at maximum capacity for extended periods. It’s also when call volume (and therefore wait times for service) are at their highest.

Avoid a breakdown at a critical moment and get their A/C serviced proactively. Some HVAC maintenance companies even offer scheduled maintenance and priority service for a low monthly fee, so your loved one can stay cool during the dog days of summer.

2. Get the Right Gear

Enjoying the great outdoors during a Texas summer takes the right outfit. Luckily, you can find what you need at a sports retailer like Replay Sports Gear, which is also conveniently located next to an athletic shoe store. 

Aging, as well as many medications, can make it harder to regulate body temperature; seniors may feel cold and want to put on a sweater even in sweltering heat or not notice they’re sweating and need to cool down. 

The right clothing can make any outing far more enjoyable and, thanks to outdoor gear companies getting more creative, it can even look fashionable as well. Look for loose, flowing layers in fabrics that wick sweat away from the body quickly. Light colors will help to repel, rather than absorb heat. While it may seem counterintuitive in the summer, a full-coverage but breathable top, like a sun hoodie, can help immensely by protecting your loved one from UV rays. 

Top it all off with a wide-brimmed sun hat (look for at least a 3” brim; 5” is better), and they’ll be ready to enjoy the warm weather in style.

3. Find Fun Reasons to Get Out of the House

Once they’ve got a cool and comfortable home to return to and a breezy new outfit, help your loved one stay active this summer by finding them activities they can look forward to. It’s especially helpful to find opportunities that involve socialization; knowing their presence will be missed can make it easier to motivate themselves to face the Texas summer heat.

During cooler days, they can head to downtown McKinney for a wide variety of activities, but what about when it’s too hot? The McKinney Senior Recreation Center is a great place to start. Membership starts at just $15 per year (depending on their age and whether they’re a resident), and includes access to a pool, group fitness classes, sports, games and a wide variety of programs and clubs to suit any interest. 

If your loved one is an expert with a skill or talent to share, they can even propose their own program and teach others.

How Home Care Helps Seniors Enjoy Summer

Whether they need a companion to make trying new activities feel more approachable, a ride to pick up summer supplies or just someone to spend time with them indoors on the hottest days, the professional caregivers from FirstLight Home Care of McKinney can help the older adults in your life enjoy summer to the fullest.