FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020 …...Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY...

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Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601-8750 (502) 695-9035 franklin.ca.uky.edu FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020 Talking to Your Child about Race Source: David Weisenhorn, Ph.D., Senior Specialist for Parenting and Child Development Today there are over 7.5 billion people in the world of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. While we may live in a community in which all of the people look similar, you dont have to travel far to see someone who may look different than you. Differences should be explored and celebrated as an opportunity to grow in our understanding of others making it important to talk with our children about race. Race is a term used to describe each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct characteristics such as skin color. Here are some ideas to consider when preparing for this most important conversation. What do you think? Take a few moments to stop and ponder your own beliefs and curiosities about race. Do you talk about race in your home? What races do you and your child see? What does your child hear about race at school and at home? Understanding what messages you believe and share concerning race can help you determine if you too need to learn more about different perspectives. Use history. It can be helpful when talking to your child about race to use historical account of how others have been treated differently and often mistreated due to race. Discuss the importance of growing in understanding of others in order to reduce fear of the unknown, and when we get to know people, we often find that they share our same feelings and interests. Dont stop the conversation. Children often speak their mind unaware of social miscues which can lead to saying things that are insensitive, embarrassing, or down right racist. If this happens in your home or in public, dont shut the conversation down, but rather explore why they said what they said. Where did you hear that? Give them a chance to explain what (Continued on Pg. 2)

Transcript of FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020 …...Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY...

Page 1: FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020 …...Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601-8750 (502) 695-9035 franklin.ca.uky.edu FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020 Talking

Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601-8750 (502) 695-9035 franklin.ca.uky.edu

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES JULY 2020

Talking to Your Child about Race

Source: David Weisenhorn, Ph.D., Senior

Specialist for Parenting and Child Development

Today there are over 7.5 billion people in the

world of all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

While we may live in a community in which all of

the people look similar, you don’t have to travel

far to see someone who may look different than

you. Differences should be explored and

celebrated as an opportunity to grow in our

understanding of others making it important to

talk with our children about race. Race is a

term used to describe each of the major

divisions of humankind, having distinct

characteristics such as skin color. Here are

some ideas to consider when preparing for this

most important conversation.

What do you think? Take a few moments to

stop and ponder your own beliefs and

curiosities about race. Do you talk about race in

your home? What races do you and your child

see? What does your child hear about race at

school and at home? Understanding what

messages you believe and share concerning

race can help you determine if you too need to

learn more about different perspectives.

Use history. It can be helpful when talking to

your child about race to use historical account

of how others have been treated differently and

often mistreated due to race. Discuss the

importance of growing in understanding of

others in order to reduce fear of the unknown,

and when we get to know people, we often find

that they share our same feelings and interests.

Don’t stop the conversation. Children often

speak their mind unaware of social miscues

which can lead to saying things that are

insensitive, embarrassing, or down right racist.

If this happens in your home or in public, don’t

shut the conversation down, but rather explore

why they said what they said. Where did you

hear that? Give them a chance to explain what

(Continued on Pg. 2)

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they mean, as children often don’t clearly

communicate what they mean the first time they

try. Engage their curious minds and help them

navigate their social encounters. Allow this

conversation to organically lead to healthy

conversations about race and the importance of

being kind. Keep in mind that this is not a one-

time conversation, but rather an ever-evolving

one in which we learn throughout our lifetime

where there are no easy tips or tricks.

Be the example. If you are urging your child to

have diverse friend networks, then you too

should be growing a diverse social group.

Young children need caring adults to help them

identify a positive self-image and a respectful

understanding of others. By diversifying your

friend group, your child will automatically be

exposed to different races and see the beauty

and enrichment they bring to our life

experience.

It is important to remember that while these

conversations may not be easy to have, they

are necessary and well worth our effort.

Reference: Lythcott-Haims, J., Wiseman, R., &

Coleman-Mortley, A. (n.d.). How to talk to kids

about race and racism. Parent Toolkit.

Retrieved from https://www.parenttoolkit.com/

social-and-emotional-development/advice/social

-awareness/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-race-and-

racism

Continued from pg. 1, Talking to Your Child about Race

From the Desk of

Tamera Thomas

I hope you all are doing well. As

we continue to navigate

these challenging times due to

the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to be

creative in working and being available to meet

your needs. Please note that the Extension

Office is currently closed to in-person public

access.

Starting June 29, we will be open to in-person

visits by appointment only. We ask that if you do

schedule an appointment, that you practice

social distancing and use proper hand hygiene

while in our facilities. These decisions were

made in response to the recommendations from

Governor Beshear’s Healthy at Work guidance,

the Opening Up America guidance, as well as

the University of Kentucky’s guidance. All of our

measures are to ensure our employees and

clientele safe. We will continue to follow this

guidance as we navigate these unprecedented

times.

We are still happy to continue to assist you as

we have been doing for the past few months – by

phone, email, text, and online programming

opportunities. Please be patient with us as we

adjust to this new normal. We are in the

processing of developing guidelines for meetings

etc. and we will inform you as those plans are

finalized. We plan to use various forms of social

media etc. to keep you informed of our

researched-based information and expand reach

in the community.

As always, if you have questions or concerns,

please feel free to contact me at (502) 695-9035

or email me.

Stay Safe and Healthy at Home!

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Family Fireworks Safety

Source: Natalie Jones, Extension Specialist for Family Health

During this time of year, fireworks are a common item at celebrations. Unfortunately, fireworks can cause serious injuries. Fireworks can cause death and injury,

including burns, contusions, lacerations, and foreign objects in the eye. The safest way to watch fireworks is by attending a professional show. If you choose to light fireworks at home, make the choice to protect yourself and your family from fireworks injuries.

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Always have fireworks activities outside. • Avoid buying fireworks packaged in brown

paper, which often means they were made for professional displays and could be dangerous for consumers.

• Fireworks should be stored in a cool dry place.

• If a firework does not light the first time, do not try to relight it.

• Make sure you, your kids and others watch fireworks displays from a safe distance.

• Pour water on all fireworks pieces before you put them in the trashcan.

• Call 911 immediately if someone is injured from fireworks.

Resources

https://www.cdc.gov/family/minutes/tips/fireworks/index.htm

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/fireworks.html#catfit

Host a Fourth of July cookout for less

Source: Kelly May, senior Extension associate for family and resource management

Many holidays revolve around food, so it’s no surprise that Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with a cookout. However, it may be surprising that we will spend billions of dollars on our patriotic dinner provisions. The National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics report that in recent years, more than half of Americans planned a cookout or picnic, spending an average of more than $70 per person on food alone.

This year, your patriotic party doesn’t have to break the bank. Use these tips to keep the fun flowing while keeping the cost down.

Spend less

Save money on the location by hosting at home or at a free public space rather than renting a pavilion. Nail down your guest list so you can have the right amount of seating, dinnerware, food, and drinks. You might consider asking guests to bring a potluck item. You could use your regular dinnerware and wash it afterward rather than purchasing disposable goods.

Make homemade foods rather than purchasing bakery desserts, pre-packaged vegetable or fruit trays, and deli-prepared sides. It is often less expensive to purchase the ingredients and prepare it yourself. If you’re serving the meal buffet style, put the meat at the end of the line, the way restaurants do, so your guests serve up (preferably healthy) sides first.

Save on beverages by serving ice water – make it fancy by infusing it with fruits or other flavors. Save at the store by taking advantage of holiday food sales and using coupons and rebates. Stack offers from multiple places to reap more benefits. Plan your menu and stick to your list to avoid overspending. Buying in bulk might help reduce costs, especially for a larger party. Just make sure you have a place to properly store excess and can use it by the expiration date.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Keeping the menu to a smaller selection of items can save you money. If there are fewer things to choose from on the buffet table, there likely will be less waste. However, don’t skimp on the volume – you wouldn’t want to run out. Prepare only what you anticipate needing, and fix more as necessary. Any extras that are uncooked can be used, stored, or frozen for later.

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Extreme Heat and Aging

Source: Amy F. Kostelic, Extension Specialist

for Adult Development and Aging

Summertime in Kentucky comes with the

dangerous combination of extreme heat and

high humidity. When a person’s body cannot

properly cool itself and adjust to the heat, heat-

related illnesses are likely to strike. High body

temperature is dangerous and may cause

damage to the brain and other vital organs. One

common heat-related illness to which older

adults are susceptible is hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia refers to extremely high body

temperature. Body temperatures soar when the

body absorbs or produces more heat than it can

get rid of. Extreme forms of hyperthermia are

referred to as heatstroke or sunstroke. Older

adults are vulnerable to hyperthermia for a

variety of reasons:

• The number of sweat glands diminish in old

age and do not function as well. This

reduces a person’s ability to perspire, which

allows the body to regulate temperature.

• Normal changes in the skin cause older

adults to have more difficulty regulating their

body temperature and adjusting to extreme

temperatures.

• With age, temperature regulation is slower,

the onset of temperature problems is slower,

and symptoms are somewhat nonspecific.

• Certain medical conditions common to old

age can decrease the body’s ability to

perspire. Such conditions include heart,

kidney, and central nervous system

diseases, dehydration, diabetes, and certain

medications.

Additional factors that may increase an older

adult’s risk of heat illness:

• Being over or underweight

• Drinking alcoholic beverages

• Living in homes without fans or air

conditioners

• Not staying indoors on hot or humid days

• Overdressing or wearing the improper

fabrics for hot weather

It is important to protect yourself and others

from the heat. While it is critical to stay indoors

on hot and humid days, it is important to note

that sometimes electric fans are not enough to

prevent heat-related illness when the

temperatures are high. If air conditioning is not

available, try to take cool baths or showers, or

go to an airconditioned place, such as a

shopping mall, public library, or heat-relief

shelter (call 2 your local Extension or Health

Department office for locations). Even a few

hours in air conditioning can help the body stay

cooler when it is time to go back into the heat.

Additional ways to protect you from the heat

include:

• cutting down on exercise and limiting

outdoor activity to morning and evening

hours

• not waiting until you are thirsty to drink, and

drinking more non-alcoholic beverages than

usual (Ask a doctor how much you should

drink if you are on a limited liquid diet or

taking water pills.)

• wearing light-weight, light-colored, and loose

-fitting clothing

• protecting yourself from the sun with wide-

brimmed hats and sunscreen

• taking breaks in shady areas as much as

possible when outdoors

• never leaving anyone in or staying in a

closed, parked vehicle

If you are an older adult or know someone who

is older, remind yourself that both of you are at

increased risk for heat-related illnesses. It is

important to check on those you know and to

have people regularly check on you for your

own summer safety.

References: L. Traywick and R. Kennedy, U of

Arkansas Cooperative Extension: 2007 Fact Sheet:

Extreme Heat and Aging.; Environmental Protection

Agency; Saxon, S. V. and Etten, M. J. (2002). Physical

Change & Aging: A Guide for the Helping Professions,

4th ed., Springer: New York.

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Reduce stress through mindfulness

Source: Kerri Ashurst, senior extension specialist

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our concept of a “normal life,” and as a result, has increased many of our stress levels. It is important for us to find ways to reduce our stress, as it can be easy for us to get caught up in the moment and let it take control over our lives and diminish our quality of life. A particularly effective way we can ease stress is through mindfulness. This technique can help you return your focus to what is important.

Mindfulness requires you to purposely pay attention to what is happening in the present moment. The most common method is to focus on breathing in and out, clearing your mind of thoughts. You can also focus on your physical self, your surroundings or your movements as you do a normal daily activity such as walking. Mindfulness helps you re-center and reduce external distractions. It allows you to evaluate yourself and your reactions to stressors around you.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been around since the 1970s, and numerous scientific studies have shown its effectiveness, as well as other positive benefits including a decrease in anxiety and depression. Some studies have shown mindful eating can be a tool for weight management.

You can practice mindfulness anytime or anywhere as long as you turn your focus inward and allow distractions to fade away.

Cloth Face Coverings: What You Should Know

Source : Jeanne Badgett, UK Senior Extension Associate Kentucky Master Clothing Volunteer Program Newsletter • May 2020 Regardless of which style of cloth face covering you choose to make or wear, the Centers for Disease Control wants to make sure your face covering: • Fits comfortably, but snugly across the sides

of your face

• Covers your nose and your mouth

• Consists of at least two layers of fabric (preferably 100% cotton fabric that is “tightly woven” –such as quilting cotton)

• Does not restrict your breathing (don’t go too crazy with “filters”)

• Can be machine washed and dried without damage or change in shape

Who / When / Where to Wear

• Cloth face coverings should be worn by those over the age of 2, those who DO NOT have breathing problems, and those who can remove the face covering on their own

• They should be worn when we go out to public places where social distancing may be difficult –such as the grocery store, pharmacy, or other business locations

• If you are just taking a walk outside, away from others, you do not need to wear a face covering

• Cloth Face Coverings are believed to help slow the spread of Covid-19

For more information about all things related to Covid-19, check out the CDC website: More Face Covering Information:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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The value of empathetic listening during a pandemic By Nicole Breazeale, Associate Extension Professor of Community and Leadership Development And By Ron Husteede, Extension Professor of Community and Leadership Development During this time of uncertainty and physical isolation, one of our biggest community needs is to hear people. It is estimated that 25% of Americans don’t have anyone to listen to them. There are different types of listening. Pseudo-listening is when we listen to be polite but don’t hear what’s being said. Empathetic listening, on the other hand, involves putting ourselves in other people’s shoes and grasping the situation from their perspective. This type of listening is critical during struggle.

To improve your empathetic listening, start by evaluating your listening skills. Do you often tune people out, cut them off, or respond immediately with a critique, suggestion, or story

of your own? Does your body language (posture, facial expression, eye contact) indicate that you are distracted? Nonverbal information is more important than what you say. How could you remove distractions and improve your listening? Next, consider the questions you ask. Open-ended questions encourage people to respond in detail. This allows people to share their story and talk about their feelings. Approaching difficult conversations with curiosity and care can create an environment where people can be honest. Finally, consider reaching out to people who may be isolated or without strong social support. For example, the Bourbon County Homemaker Club set up a phone tree to check on members who live alone, are self-quarantined, or may need help running errands. These calls have continued for months, fostering new relationships. The University of Kentucky also organized teams of people to call 30,000 students to learn how they were dealing with the transition from campus-based classes to online learning. What groups are you part of that can be mobilized to call up residents and offer an empathetic ear?

Budgeting tips to help you navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Source: Kelly May, senior extension associate

Over the past months, the COVID-19 pandemic

has affected many aspects of our lives,

including our finances. Some have lost jobs or

have had hours reduced. Others have seen

changes in expenses with some payments

increasing while others have decreased. The

pandemic has even changed some of our

attitudes about money. Developing and sticking

to a budget can help you work through any

hardships caused by the pandemic, gain control

of your finances and get you back on track to

achieving your financial dreams.

To help you get started, the University of

Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has a

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basic budget sheet available online at https://

bit.ly/spending-savings.

The first step in any budget is to evaluate your

monthly income. If you have lost or changed

your job because of the pandemic, this part of

your budget may be different than it was a few

months ago. You may have temporary sources

of income, such as unemployment benefits, that

you need to include.

Next, think about

your monthly

expenses. Some of

these are going to

be fixed expenses,

which means you

pay the same

amount each month.

These expenses

include things like

your mortgage, car payment or insurance. Other

payments like your utilities change every month

and are called flexible expenses. Evaluate

whether your flexible expenses have changed

because of the coronavirus. For example, if you

are working from home, you may be using more

electricity now than in the past.

With many people at home and businesses shut

down the past few months, you may have saved

some money in areas like child care,

entertainment, dining out and gas. Were you

able to save these funds, or did you spend it in

other areas? If you find you have saved some

money, you can allocate it to areas of your

budget to help fill in gaps. You may want to use

it to pay down some debt or build your savings

account to help pay for future emergency

expenses. As businesses reopen and more

people return to work, you may need to count

on some of these expenses increasing within

your budget, while there could be others you

may not need anymore.

If you are struggling to have your income cover

your expenses, look for areas you can trim or

eliminate. Common places where people find

they can trim expenses are communication and

entertainment. For example, bundling your

internet and television may be cheaper than

paying for each separately, or you may be able

to reduce your streaming service subscriptions.

You can also reduce the number of times you

dine out, or you can start meal

planning to help you lower

your grocery bill. If you are

struggling, evaluate whether

each potential purchase is a

need or a want and buy only

what you need. Try to avoid

impulse purchases, whether

they be in the stores or online.

If you find online shopping too

tempting while you are at

home, you may consider

staying off internet shopping sites altogether.

Many creditors are offering emergency financial

assistance in the forms of forbearance or

delayed payments due to the pandemic. The

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a

wealth of information about the types of

financial assistance that is available to

consumers, and it is regularly updated. You can

read more about different types of financial

assistance online at https://

www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/. If

needed, take advantage of these forms of

financial relief. However, realize that these may

end up costing you more in additional interest in

the long run, so they should only be used if

necessary. If you have emergency savings,

consider using it to pay necessary expenses

and rebuild it as soon as you can.

More information on family financial education is

available by contacting the Franklin County

office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative

Extension Service.

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Create healthy eating

environments for children

We all want our children to grow up healthy and happy. This is one of the reasons we encourage them to eat healthy foods throughout their lives. A recent statement by the American Heart Association added clarity to how a parents and caregivers can help children develop lifelong healthy eating habits.

In regards to reducing a child’s risk of overweight, obesity or cardiovascular disease, the environments in which children eat may be just as important as the types of food they eat. Parents and caregivers can create healthy eating environments for children by providing healthy options and then allowing children to make choices when it comes to what they eat and when they have had enough.

When parents and caregivers exert too much or too little control over what children eat, this can have negative long-term consequences resulting in overeating and lower-quality diets. According to Courtney Luecking, University of Kentucky extension specialist in food and nutrition, children are born with the ability to stop eating when they are full. By pressuring or requiring them to clean their plate, we may be teaching them to ignore this natural ability. Rewarding children when they eat healthy food or punishing them if they do not eat healthy food can cause children to develop a lifelong dislike for those foods. On the other hand, if we allow children to eat whenever and whatever they want, they will not have the opportunity to learn healthy eating behaviors.

To help parents and caregivers strike the balance between too much and too little control,

experts offered evidence-based strategies for creating positive eating environments.

• Provide consistent mealtimes. The structure and routine of consistent mealtimes creates rules and expectations for the eating environment. Enjoying snacks or meals as a family can provide additional benefits.

• Provide children with many healthy selections and let them choose what to eat. Not only do they get eat what they want (within reason), it also helps them feel like they have sense of control and helps them develop their decision-making skills. Both of which are important.

• When introducing a new food into your child’s diet, introduce it alongside food that your child already likes. Children can be picky eaters, especially during ages 1 to 5 or when they experience different textures and tastes. They may be more likely to try foods if served with something familiar or when they have had a hand in growing or preparing a food. According to Sandra Bastin, UK food and nutrition extension specialist, there is hope for the picky eater. Research indicates that it may take 10 to 15 exposures before a child accepts something new. Just because they won’t eat it today, doesn’t mean they won’t eat it next week. But don’t expect them to like different foods if all you serve them is pizza or French fries.

• Set a good example when it comes to food. Make healthy eating choices and let children see you enjoy the process of eating and consuming healthy foods.

• Pay attention to children’s hunger and fullness cues. Avoid pressuring them into cleaning their plate or using food as a reward or a punishment. Instead, honor children’s verbal or non-verbal cues that they have had enough. Parents and caregivers play a significant role in the development of children’s eating behaviors. Creating healthy eating environments and allowing children to make decisions around food early in life can help them develop lifelong habits that promote better nutrition now and in the future.

For more information about healthy eating, contact the Franklin County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service at us at 695-9035.

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Tips for buying local meat Source: Gregg Rentfrow, meat science extension specialist Many people are interested in purchasing local meat, because they want to support local farmers and give a boost to their local economy. This year, some may be interested in buying local simply because they cannot find the types of meat or the cuts they want at the grocery stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Kentucky, you can find producers selling local beef, pork, lamb and poultry at farmers markets, roadside stands, directly off the farm and online. In some cases, you may personally know the producer you are buying from, but that’s not always possible. As with purchasing from any unknown seller or entity for the first time, some people may feel a little uneasy. Here is some information to help you feel confident in your local meat purchases. By law, all meat must be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture prior to it being sold. All registered farmers markets and roadside stands require their producers to have USDA certification. If you are purchasing from another venue or want reassurance that the meat has been inspected by the USDA, it is fine to look for the USDA inspection legend or ask to see it. If they are selling meat directly from their farm, producers should have informed the local health department. The health department should have inspected the operation to make sure they are practicing safe food storage and handling practices in addition to the USDA product inspection. As a customer, you can ask to see their health department score. You can also ask the producer questions about the farm or even ask to see their animals. People look for different characteristics in meat when they look for quality, but probably the easiest indicator of freshness is the “sniff test”. If the meat smells “off” or pungent, it may not be

a good idea to buy it. Since we are very visual creatures, color can be an important indicator of quality, but realize that meat colors can change with packaging. For example, fresh beef tends to be red in color, but when it is vacuumed sealed in packaging, it can turn purple. Both are safe to eat. With that said, green is not a good

color for any type of meat, and you should avoid it. Once you have made a meat purchase, it is important to continue to take proper food safety precautions to ensure the meat stays fresh. For this reason, your meat should be one of the last purchases you make while out running errands. It is important for you to get it home and in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent bacteria that can cause food-

borne illnesses from forming. Different types of meat have different storage times. If refrigerated, ground beef, ground lamb and chicken should be used within one to two days. Refrigerated pork and lamb chops, lamb roasts and lamb steaks should be used within three to five days. If frozen in an airtight container, meat can last indefinitely, but the quality will diminish the longer it is frozen. To find optimum quality times for a particular frozen meat, visit the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s website at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/home.

Neurobics: Keeping your mind fit

Source: Amy Kostelic, Extension Specialist for Adult Development and Aging

The brain allows you to interact with the world and understand, analyze, and respond to various surroundings. Therefore, a healthy brain is crucial to survival, growth, and everyday successes. Similar to the rest of the body, the brain needs exercise and maintenance in order to optimize and protect its current and future health. In particular, the brain needs socialization, mental stimulation, physical activity, nutrition, and sleep.

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Outdoor summer tips for family caregivers

Source: Amy F. Kostelic, Extension Specialist for Adult Development and Aging

Summer is a great time to spend outdoors with family at picnics and other get-togethers. If you are social distancing with older adults or people with disabilities, remember that they are at higher risk for dehydration and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature). In addition to sunscreen, be sure your loved one is wearing a hat, sunglasses, and lightweight long-sleeved, loose-fitting clothes for outdoor activities. Offer water or non-caffeinated liquids throughout the day in addition to healthy foods and snacks. Limit sun exposure when it is the hottest, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and consult with a pharmacist to review medications that might cause sun-sensitivity.

According to the Care Academy, signs of hyperthermia include:

• Headache • Nausea and vomiting • No sweat, despite hot temperature and heat • Heavy breathing • Fainting • Accelerated pulse • Dry, flushed skin

It is also important to pay attention to a person’s abilities, limitations, safety and preferences when planning activities. Include periods of downtime and opportunities for individual or small group discussion. Multiple people talking at once and too much background noise can make it difficult to hear and may be overwhelming. If a family member is having trouble with memory, be sure there is a designated person to spend one-on-one time with them. Remember, just because someone has a cognitive or physical impairment does not mean that he or she can no longer participate in meaningful activities, such as a family gathering. Being together with family contributes to health and well-being, as the memories that are shared and created are priceless.

References:

CareAcademy. (2018). 8 tips for caregiving in the summer. Retrieved https://blog.careacademy.com/8- tips-for-caregiving-in-the-summer

Care.com. (2020). 12 summer safety tips for seniors. https://www.care.com/c/stories/5444/12-summer-safety-tips-forseniors/ The Caregiver Connection. (2015). Summer tips for caregivers. Retrieved https://www.thecaregiverconnection.org/summer-tips-for-caregivers/

Sunscreen Safety

Source: Natalie Jones, Family Health Extension Specialist

Using sunscreen, the right way, is the best way to prevent skin cancer and prevent or delay skin aging caused by being out in the sun. Follow these tips from dermatologists when applying sunscreen:

1. Choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water resistant, and provides broad-spectrum coverage.

2. Apply sunscreen generously 15 minutes before going outdoors.

3. Adults need to use 1 ounce — or enough to fill a shot glass — of sunscreen to fully cover their body.

4. Do not forget to apply sunscreen to your neck, face, ears, tops of your feet, and legs.

5. To stay safe from the sun, reapply sunscreen every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating.

For the best protection, stay in the shade and wear protective clothing, a hat with a wide brim, and sunglasses, as well as sunscreen. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15.

References

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm

https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/prevent/how-to-apply-sunscreen

https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/Sunscreen-Tips-to-wear-itwell.h25Z1591413.html

Holman DM, Berkowitz Z, Guy GP, Jr., Hawkins NA, Saraiya M, Watson M. Patterns of sunscreen use on the face and other exposed skin among U.S. adults.External Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2015;73(1):83–92 e81.

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