How to Prepare Your Loved One’s Space for a Safe Summer Season

As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, it's the perfect time for adult children and family caregivers to evaluate the living environment of their aging parents or loved ones with disabilities. Preparing a safe, comfortable, and joyful space for summer goes far beyond how a house looks to visitors.

It's about reducing risks, supporting daily routines, and planning ahead for the season’s unique challenges, especially when it comes to allergies, mobility, and seasonal mood shifts. If your loved one lives independently, a few seasonal tweaks—including setting up in-home care and companionship services—an make a significant difference.

This mini guide offers practical tips on summer cleaning, home safety, emotional wellness, and knowing when to seek extra support.

Why Seasonal Prep Matters

Summer brings not just sunshine and outdoor fun, but also hidden hazards: excess heat, humidity, slippery porches from sudden storms, and allergens that can affect respiratory health. For individuals with limited mobility, cognitive impairments, or chronic conditions, the season also introduces new layers of complexity to daily living.

Proactively preparing your loved one’s space and schedule for summer means preventing accidents, improving health, and making room for memorable moments like family barbecues and community celebrations. Home care and companionship services can be a valuable part of your prep work too. Explore our helpful guide to in-home senior care for details on what services would be included, how to cover the cost of home care, and other useful information.

1. Start with a Summer Cleaning Checklist

You’ve likely heard of spring cleaning, but what is summer cleaning? It’s actually an opportunity to refresh the home for warmer weather, reduce allergens, and eliminate tripping hazards that might not be obvious during the colder months.

Use this quick summer cleaning checklist as a starting point:

• Declutter hallways, entryways, and floors so mobility aids can move freely
• Replace heavy winter rugs with non-slip mats or remove them entirely
• Clean or replace HVAC filters to reduce indoor allergens and keep air fresh
• Wipe down windowsills, blinds, and fans to avoid dust and pollen buildup
• Check for mold or mildew in damp areas like bathrooms or basements
• Store or donate winter clothing and blankets to make space for lighter items

This is also the time to assess whether daily routines have shifted, especially for those who live with chronic conditions or experience cognitive decline. Consider whether commonly used items are accessible and if new supports are needed in bathrooms, kitchens, or entryways.

2. Minimize Allergy & Weather-Related Risks

While sunshine is a mood booster, seasonal transitions can bring about physical discomfort, particularly for people sensitive to pollen, mold, or humidity. Seasonal allergies can exacerbate respiratory issues or lead to fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.

To keep your loved one’s environment allergy-friendly, try to keep windows closed on high pollen days and run an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Remember to unpackage any new air purifiers thoroughly, as many people often forget to remove plastic surrounding filters! Make an effort to wash bedding weekly in hot water and encourage showering and changing clothes after time outdoors.

Plan ahead for rainy days and weather-related safety by keeping driveways and walkways even and cleared of debris and by using absorbent, non-slip mats at entryways. You may also want to have umbrellas and ponchos handy to make moving in and out of the house easier.

These steps can help reduce slips and falls and support your loved one’s confidence in moving safely around their home and community.

3. Adjust Routines for Seasonal Changes

Summer often means more daylight and invitations to socialize; Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, and neighborhood block parties can be a wonderful source of joy. Planning ahead helps your loved one enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, confused, or at risk of injury.

Here are some ideas for seasonal care routine adjustments to maximize the fun:

• Shift outdoor activities to early morning or evening to avoid peak heat
• Keep water bottles and liquids easily accessible to promote hydration
• Offer lightweight clothing and sun-protective gear, like wide-brimmed hats
• Coordinate transportation for summer events in advance to reduce stress
• Keep them cool with fans, cold compresses, and extra water to beat heatwaves

And don’t forget to check in with your loved one, staying mindful of loud noises, large crowds, and heat exposure. You might have to be the one to make an executive decision to bring them inside if the weather is stifling or help them make an easy exit during parties and gatherings when they’re ready.

Some people have difficulties voicing their uncomfortableness, so you’ll have to look out for the signs and act proactively. The National Institute on Aging reminds us that headaches, confusion, dizziness, or nausea can all be signs of heat-related illnesses, and that hot days can make it hard for the body to regulate its temperature.¹ If your loved one has dementia, preparing them for changes in routine and using visual aids can help as well.

4. Support Emotional Wellness & Prevent Isolation

While winter is often associated with seasonal depression, the transition to summer can also affect emotional health. Sudden shifts in temperature, changes in routine, or watching others vacation and socialize freely may lead to feelings of loneliness or anxiety.

To combat seasonal mood shifts, encourage joyful movement or safe participation in family events, local parades, and community programs. Older adults and adults with disabilities want to be included too. If transportation is not always feasible, you could set up a garden or bird-watching station to create outdoor enjoyment from the porch or window. Play music, organize simple games, or revisit favorite movies to create summer-themed fun at home.

Remember: connection is key. If you can’t be there in person, regular video calls or a trusted in-home caregiver can provide companionship and a familiar routine.

5. Know When It’s Time to Bring in Help

As the summer season unfolds, you may notice new challenges that didn’t exist in previous months. Perhaps aging parents are struggling to keep up with household chores, or a loved one with a disability seems more fatigued or less social. These are often signs that it may be time to consider outside help.

Comfort Keepers of Philadelphia offers professional, compassionate support designed around your family’s needs. From light housekeeping and medication reminders to personal care and companionship, our caregivers help maintain independence while providing peace of mind to families.

A Safe, Comfortable Summer Starts at Home

A little preparation now goes a long way in helping your loved one have a safer, more enjoyable summer. Whether you're organizing a backyard barbecue, updating the home to reduce risks, or looking for support with daily care, use this season to reconnect, refresh, and reimagine how your family supports aging and independence.

If you're unsure where to start, Comfort Keepers is here to help with personalized care plans that grow with your needs so that every summer memory is one to cherish. Contact us today to get started.

Sources:

1. Hot Weather Safety for Older Adults, National institute on Aging