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The Importance of Sun Safety for Seniors

How to Protect Yourself From the Sun

● Sunscreen – It seems simple, but it’s easy to get lazy and forget to apply sunscreen before leaving the house. Maybe you think that if you are only running errands, you don’t need sunscreen. Daily exposure to the sun puts you at risk for skin damage. Sunscreen should be worn daily. If you are staying in the sun for an extended time, don’t forget to reapply. You should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving the house and reapply every 2 hours if you are outside.

● Wear a Hat and Sunglasses – Even if you have a nice full head of hair, your scalp can get sunburned. If you have thinning hair or are bald, then a hat is especially important. A good sunhat will also help shade your face, although it is still wise to apply sunscreen. Sunglasses protect part of your face, as well as your eyes. Believe it or not, your eyeballs can get sunburned which is not a pain you want to experience!

● Wear Protective Clothing – There is a lot of clothing available now with built-in sun protection, and it looks pretty stylish too! Coolibar, North Face, Huk, and Salt Life are just a few clothing brands that offer stylish clothes with built-in sun protection. It’s an easy and effective way to help protect yourself from the sun.

● Find Shade – When possible, stay in the shade. If you are at the beach or a grandchild’s soccer game, bring an umbrella or sunshade. Umbrellas are great when you are walking around outside too. Doing a little shopping in Downtown Melbourne? Bring your umbrella! Eating outside at a cafe? Pick a shaded table.

● Choose Your Outside Hours Carefully – The hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are the most dangerous to be in the sun. The UV rays are the strongest during those hours making it more likely you will get sunburned which can lead to skin damage or even skin cancer. The less sun damage your skin sustains, the better.

How Does Victoria Landing Help Protect Its Residents From the Sun?

Victoria Landing offers luxury retirement living in Melbourne, FL. Our residents are free to come and go as they choose. (The exception is our memory care unit where we offer security to keep our residents with memory issues safe from wandering.) Therefore, taking care of your skin and being mindful of time in the sun falls to our residents as it does to adults living on their own. However, we offer a wide variety of indoor activities so our residents don’t get bored during the hours when it is best to avoid the sun! We aren’t going to tell you to stay in your apartment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. That would be crazy when Victoria Landing has so much to offer!

We have a lovely pool and walking paths, plus outdoor activities like bocce ball and our putting green. But, when it is best to avoid the sun, you can come indoors to take part in a myriad of activities. We have a movie theater, library, fitness center, and game and craft rooms. We also offer organized activities such as live music, Manicure Mondays, Bible studies, Wine Down Wednesdays, and so much more!

Summary

Protecting yourself from the sun is an important step in protecting your health and safety. Wearing sunscreen, wearing a hat and sunglasses, wearing protective clothing, finding shade, and choosing your outside hours carefully are all important tips for protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. You will benefit by reducing the damaging effects of the sun such as wrinkles and age/sun spots. More importantly, you will reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Victoria Landing offers senior living, assisted living, and memory care for seniors desiring a beautiful setting on the banks of the Indian River in Melbourne, FL. With a ton of fun activities and friends living right next door to you, you can easily avoid those dangerous hours in the sun light. Then, when it’s safer to be outside, you can enjoy our beautiful pool, walking paths, and more. Taking care of yourself is important. Living at Victoria Landing is exciting. The two combined equal luxury living!