Senior Care Safety: National Grilling Month

Senior Care Faith NC

The summer is a fantastic time for your senior parent to get to enjoy the company of friends and family more often and participate in fun traditional activities that keep their minds and their bodies active. One especially popular activity for families to enjoy together during the summer months is having cookouts. In fact, July is National Grilling Month and the perfect opportunity for you to get outside with your family and enjoy the weather, the leisurely pace, and delicious summertime favorites. While you are pulling out your favorite recipes and inviting everyone to join you, however, it is important that you also keep in mind the safety issues related to grilling and take steps to ensure that your aging loved one, and the other members of your family, stay safe while enjoying this summertime tradition.

Around 60 percent of homes own a gas grill and many other households own a wood or charcoal. Each year nearly 9000 home fires are caused by these grills and more than 16600 injuries related to grills require a trip to the emergency room. 17 percent of all of these grill fires occur in the month of July. Use these tips to help prevent these and other issues when you break out the grill with your elderly parent this summer:

• Keep it outside. Never use a grill indoors. This includes small, individual sized grills.

• Choose a safe location. When setting up your grill, make sure that you choose a location for it that is not close to the home or other structures, including fences and potentially flammable lawn features. Also make sure that it is not close enough to trees that it could ignite overhanging branches.

• Create a no-go zone around it. Be sure that everyone, including your senior parent, your children, and pets, know not to get near the grill. Consider creating a visual reminder, such as setting up a ring of rocks several feet around the grill, to keep people away from it.

• Clean it regularly. Grills can form a buildup of fat, food particles, and other debris. These dramatically increase the risk of flares and fires. Make sure that you clean the grill regularly, including any trays that collect fat and grease. Only clean a grill when it is completely cold and be sure to remove all residue of cleaning materials before trying to light the grill.

Senior care can be an exceptional way to encourage your aging parent to continue enjoying the same active, engaged summer traditions that they have always loved even while dealing with their personal limitations and challenges. A senior home care services provider can be there with your parent to keep them safe and get them involved in the activities, enabling you to focus on other elements of the event. Even when there is not a specific event going on, a senior care provider can encourage your loved one to be more active and adventurous this summer, stimulating their mind and body for better health and a higher quality of life.

Source: http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/outdoors-and-seasonal/grilling

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home Senior Care in Faith NC, please contact the caring staff at Tender Hearted Home Care today. (704) 612-4132