Ensuring Your Senior’s Eyes are Protected from the Sun

Admin • March 8, 2022

With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, many people are thinking about heading outside to enjoy some fresh air and activities. As a family caregiver this is a wonderful time for you to get your senior loved one more active and change up their routine after what might have been a long winter spent mostly indoors. When you are planning these activities, it is important that you take the time to make sure that your parent is properly protected. You likely already know the dangers that the sun poses to their skin and the importance of making sure that they wear the proper sunscreen on their skin when they are out of the house. It is vital, however, that you do not overlook the importance of protecting their eyes as well.

UVA and UVB rays can cause extensive damage to the eyes, including increased risk of a variety of eye diseases and potential for blindness. Properly protecting their eyes when they are going to be out in the sun is an important part of keeping your loved one active and engaged, but also safe and healthy.

Use these tips to help ensure that your aging parent’s eyes are properly protected when they are out in the sun:

  • Don’t just think summertime. Protect them at all times throughout the year rather than just in the summer, as UV rays exist during all seasons.
  • Cover up. Wear large-brimmed hats when going out into the sun to prevent the rays from affecting their eyes and also protecting their delicate facial skin from the damage of the sun.
  • Choose the right sunglasses. Donning sunglasses is an obvious way to reduce the risk of eye damage due to the sun, but it is important that you do not just choose any sunglasses. Look for glasses that wrap around the sides of the eyes to prevent rays from entering in at this angle. Make sure that the sunglasses are marked as protecting against both UVA and UVB rays.

If you have found that your parent’s needs and challenges are more extensive than you can handle comfortably, or your own limitations or schedule have made it so that you are not managing your parent’s needs in the best way possible, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting home care for them. A care provider can be an exceptional way to ensure that your elderly parent’s individual needs are met in the way that is right for them and on the schedule that is best not just for them, but also for you as their primary caregiver. This can enable your senior to live a lifestyle that is more active, engaged, and fulfilling, while also permitting you to take a step back and focus more energy and attention on other obligations in your life, easing your stress and supporting a better quality of life for both of you. When it comes to important tasks such as making sure that they are properly protected from the sun when they go outside, this care provider can be a valuable source of support and reminders to help them make the decisions that are right for their needs and that will help them to stay healthy, comfortable, and safe as they age in place.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Darien, NY, contact Star One Home Care and Medical Staffing at 718-733-2222 or 914-362-0899. Call today!

Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA

Director of Client Services at Star One Home Care


Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA is Director of Client Services & Director of Phoenix Nurse Aide Training Center. Before assuming the post in 2012, Patricia was the Director or Nursing & Service Delivery at WRC for 3 years where she was the strategic lead for nursing and services to members.


Patricia started her nursing career 19 years ago at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and research institution in New York City, and since then has gained experience in Adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) , Pediatric Care (PICU ), Operating Room (OR) , mental health and community settings. She later moved into director of nursing roles, where she obtained extensive experience in leading and developing the nursing profession. She also pioneered good partnership working with other health care organizations, as well as social services, and the wider community.

Latest posts by Patricia Coffie, RN, BSN, MFA

Caring for a Parent with Vision Loss - July 25, 2017

Living with Huntington’s Disease - June 29, 2017

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