ONE saving grace of the lockdown has been the wonderful (record-breaking) weather we have experienced over the last 13 weeks.

While the sunshine and warm temperatures often help to lift our mood, as we get older this weather can be as challenging as the hardest of winters.

We can all experience discomfort in hot weather, but as we age or develop chronic health conditions we need to be extra careful.

With age we gradually lose the ability to regulate our body temperature, our heart rate does not speed up or return to normal as fast and our older skin thins and offers less protection from the sun.

Medications, poor circulation, high blood pressure and heart, lung and kidney diseases all increase the risk of suffering heat-related illness and affect our ability to manage hotter weather.

Keeping our body cool is essential to preventing dehydration or even heat stroke.

Wearing sunscreen is an absolute must, as is drinking plenty of water even if we do not feel thirsty.

Staying in the shade, wearing lighter clothing and keeping our head covered will also help with keeping cool and staying safe.

Older eyes can take longer to adjust to rapid changes from light to dark. So take extra care to reduce the risk of tripping or falling.

The common sense approach is not always easy to adhere to when we want to make the most of the weather. But the alternatives are often unthinkable - especially for older people.

Please call 030 300 30003 for further advice to ensure that we, or our older friends, relatives or neighbours stay safe in the sun.