Adobe Population Health Ranks No. 2,271 on the 2023 Inc. 5000

Within the Health Services Industry, Adobe Ranks No. 157 Among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Phoenix, August 15, 2023 – Inc. revealed today Adobe Population Health ranks No. 2,271 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

 

“I am extremely excited to be among those on this list of fastest growing companies,” said Jayme Ambrose, DNP, RN, CCN, chief executive officer at Adobe. “Our rank within the health services industry speaks volumes. Our team has seen growth not only financially but also in the number of our employees, health plan partners and health plan members we manage daily.”

 

Adobe provides interventional care management services across multiple states through a hybrid care model delivering whole-person care. By combining proprietary risk stratification and health risk assessment with virtual and in-home care delivery, Adobe gathers a complete picture of at-risk members, coordinating seamlessly with primary care while addressing social determinants, improving outcomes and lowering costs. Applying the human touch, Adobe develops real relationships forging a pathway forward and improving both the human and health condition of each member. Since opening in 2017, Adobe Population Health has grown from 12 employees and one office to approximately 300 employees in seven offices across the Southwest. The company provides healthcare solution services to more than 200,000 lives.

 

The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up to an astonishing 2,238 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

 

For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, available on newsstands beginning Tuesday, August 23.

 

“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”

 

“Our mission to positively impact the lives we touch drives our passion here at Adobe,” said Ambrose. “We look forward to continued growth and expanding our footprint nationally.

 

About Adobe Population Health

Since 2018, Adobe Population Health (formerly Adobe Care & Wellness) has been an innovator providing whole-person, proactive care management services supporting more than 200,000 members nationally. Specializing in Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans Adobe customizes programs by identifying at-risk members and intervening with a whole-person proactive care approach addressing social determinants first so that a member’s health can become their top priority. Adobe is the only care management company in the U.S. leveraging a hybrid, integrated model offering preventative care that is successfully reducing emergency department visits and hospital readmits while increasing member retention and satisfaction. Adobe, changing how healthcare is delivered. For more information visit www.adobepophealth.com/.

 

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

 

Methodology

Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2022. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places.

 

About Inc.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

Adobe Care & Wellness Expands Adding Three New Locations

Adobe Care & Wellness Expands Adding Three New Locations

Updates Company Name and Brand as Organization Expands Nationally

 

Phoenix, AZ – August 1, 2023 — Adobe Care & Wellness, an innovative care management company, announced an expansion with the addition of three offices this year in Kingman, Ariz., Las Vegas and Reno, Nev. joining the company’s headquarters in Phoenix. As part of an aggressive expansion, the company has also updated its name and brand to Adobe Population Health, a better description of its broad care management service offering supporting Medicaid, Medicare and Commercial insurance members.

 

Adobe provides interventional care management services across Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada through a hybrid care model delivering whole-person care. By combining proprietary risk stratification and health risk assessment with virtual and in-home care delivery, Adobe gathers a complete picture of at-risk members, coordinating seamlessly with primary care while addressing social determinants, improving outcomes and lowering costs. Applying the human touch, Adobe develops real relationships forging a pathway forward and improving both the human and health condition of each member. Since opening in 2017, Adobe Population Health has grown from 12 employees and one office to approximately 300 employees in seven offices across the Southwest. The company now provides healthcare solution services to more than 200,000 lives.

 

“We are so excited to announce our new name and brand that reflects the roots of our organization and the depth of services we provide our partners and the community,” said Jayme Ambrose, chief executive officer. “Our mission at Adobe Population Health is to continue to positively impact the lives we touch and one way to do this is to expand our footprint nationally to reach more lives.”

 

Adobe Population Health builds trusted relationships by meeting members where they feel safe and comfortable, in their own homes (or as we like to say, their adobe). Beyond identifying at-risk populations, Adobe proactively intervenes through a customized data-driven approach meeting compliance requirements by closing care gaps, addressing social determinants and supporting transitional care management. Adobe does more than check a box; the innovative Adobe Care Management Model delivers whole-person care that changes lives.

 

About Adobe Population Health

Since 2018, Adobe Population Health (formerly Adobe Care & Wellness) has been an innovator providing whole-person, proactive care management services supporting 200,000 members across multiple states. Specializing in Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans Adobe customizes programs by identifying at-risk members and intervening with a whole-person proactive care approach addressing social determinants first so that a member’s health can become their top priority. Adobe is the only care management company in the U.S. leveraging a hybrid, integrated model offering preventative care that is successfully reducing emergency department visits and hospital readmits while increasing member retention and satisfaction. Adobe, changing how healthcare is delivered.

Salesforce – How Automation Helped an Integrated Health Care Company Save over 5,000 Hours and $439,000

,

Salesforce featured Adobe Population Health and our innovative strategy turning to automation to modernize patient billing, care data, and health insurance validation. With MuleSoft technology, workflows, tasks, and processes are now automated, saving the company more than 5,000 work hours annually and over $439,000 in total labor and efficiency value and cost avoidance.

Read the full article here.

The Wall Street Journal – CIO Journal – Slack’s New CEO Brings Generative AI to the Workplace Conversation

,

Messaging app hopes new AI features and more integration with Salesforce will resonate with business users

Adobe CIO Alex Waddell is featured in this WSJ article discussing AI and the workplace. Read the full article here.

Adobe Population Health to Present at Salesforce World Tour NYC

Adobe Population Health CIO, Alex Waddell, to discuss an Innovative Solution for Health Data Interoperability and Automation

Phoenix, AZ May 2, 2023 — Adobe Population Health, an innovative care management company serving the southwest, announced today that Alex Waddell, chief information officer, will be speaking at Salesforce’s World Tour NYC on May 4, 2023. The presentation will focus on Adobe’s application of Salesforce technology, including MuleSoft, to automate workflows for their innovative care model including a bi-directional data transfer between Adobe and Medicare and Medicaid insurers.

Adobe Population Health is a tech-enabled care management company supported by a proprietary system built on the Salesforce Platform to store, track, transfer and analyze data to increase efficiency of care.

Data interoperability between electronic medical records (EMRs) and clinical systems as well as various vendors and providers in healthcare has always been a challenge impacting the ability to generate reports, conduct analytic analysis and measure results for health plan partners. With this in mind, Waddell and his team leveraged MuleSoft’s product suite to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) eliminating double entry and building a bridge between Adobe EMR and their health plan partners. This innovative technology allows clinical staff to reduce administrative tasks entering the same data into two different systems freeing up time for care delivery. The customized platform has saved Adobe more than 5,000 work hours.

“Our health plan partners were convinced there was no way to integrate our two systems, but at the same time hoped for a method of inputting data directly into their systems,” said Waddell, chief information officer, Adobe Population Health. “MuleSoft allowed us to do that by automating a process that takes content out of Salesforce and logs it directly into the payer’s system.”

“Leveraging Salesforce technology to develop a customized platform for proactive care management has been tremendously beneficial for Adobe,” shared chief executive officer, Jayme Ambrose. “We appreciate the opportunity to speak about our work together on a national stage.”

 

For more information on Salesforce World Tour NYC , click here

To learn more about Alex Waddell, visit his LinkedIn profile.

 

About Adobe Population Health

Since 2018, Adobe Population Health (formerly Adobe Care & Wellness) has been an innovator providing whole-person, proactive care management services supporting 200,000 members across multiple states. Specializing in Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans Adobe customizes programs by identifying at-risk members and intervening with a whole-person proactive care approach addressing social determinants first so that a member’s health can become their top priority. Adobe is the only care management company in the U.S. leveraging a hybrid, integrated model offering preventative care that is successfully reducing emergency department visits and hospital readmits while increasing member retention and satisfaction. Adobe, changing how healthcare is delivered. For more information visit www.adobecw.com.

 

Media Contact:

Abby Davenport

abby@punchingnungroup.com

mental health resources for seniors

Why Mental Health Resources for Seniors are crucial

Mental health is a public health issue and the state of mental health and aging in America gives pause for concern. It’s estimated that 20 percent of people aged 55 and older experience some type of mental concern, according to the CDC. The most common mental health concerns include anxiety, severe cognitive impairment, and mood disorders such as depression and/or bipolar. Suicide becomes a growing risk for persons aged 85 and older, particularly for white elderly males. In fact, this cohort of white males have the highest annual suicide rate of any group – 51.4 deaths per 100,000. Given these alarming stats, it is evident that mental health resources for seniors are crucial. We cannot simply turn a blind eye to this generation, it’s paramount to examine the social determinants of health, including mental health in order to tackle this and other health related issues head-on.

The “treatment gap”

Two-thirds of seniors with mental health issues do not get the treatment they need, according to the WHO and it’s referred to as the “treatment gap.” The “treatment gap” is due to a combination of factors but mainly due to the wide disparities in mental health resources and a mental health workforce.

Here is a list of general mental agencies and behavioral health resources that are specific to seniors:

  1. Administration on Aging: An agency within the Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. On its webpage, there are links to resources, programs and agencies that cover topics, including substance abuse and mental health in seniors.
  2. National Council on Aging: Founded in 1950 as the first charitable organization that advocates for older Americans with service providers and policymakers.
  3. National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse: A directory providing comprehensive information on national and local programs offering mental health services for seniors.
  4. National Institute of Mental Health: The Institute has a resource about senior mental health specifically. Learn more here.

Bridging the gap

Since its inception, Adobe Care & Wellness is committed to being a voice for the underrepresented and bridging the gap in helping seniors gain access to quality health care. With the proper access and resources, Adobe Care & Wellness knows that outcomes can be improved and have witnessed it first-hand. At Adobe Care & Wellness, we believe that data-driven solutions combined with personal touch is the best approach for tackling the “treatment gap” dilemma. Adobe utilizes technology solutions to help remove barriers and deliver more personalized care.

Helping seniors gain access to mental health care

Adobe Care & Wellness developed an application called Maslow that provides users information and  resources available to Arizona and Nevada residents. Adobe’s goal is to grow this nationally. The application requires the user to take a brief survey, which in turn, identifies that person’s needs and provides access to resources to address those specific needs. Maslow searches its large database to geolocate local resources for the user.

Oftentimes, seniors don’t know where to begin when looking for mental health resources. Some are also reticent to have that conversation with their Primary Care Physician due to stigma in our aging population.

For today’s aging population, mental health has become increasingly important. Many seniors are living alone or must move into new living arrangements. Isolation brought on by a myriad of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic have further exasperated conditions that contribute to senior mental health issues.

To learn more about the Adobe Care & Wellness mission, its commitment to helping its members, and broadening resources and access to care, get in touch here.

 

7 Cancer Prevention Tips

The word cancer can evoke fear for most individuals. While the medical field continues to conduct research and develop treatments, there are still no absolute indicators on why some people develop certain cancers, while others do not. What we do know from medical research is there are multiple factors that can impact whether a person gets cancer. Certain risk factors such as age and family history can’t be avoided but there are steps one can take or lifestyle changes that can be incorporated to help improve overall health and prevent the risk of cancer. In this blog, you will find seven cancer prevention tips to consider adopting: 

1. Get regular screenings

Perhaps the most obvious but nonetheless important health care practice is getting regular screenings. It is essential to an early cancer diagnosis and to minimize serious risk and maximize treatment options and efficacy. Visiting your primary care physician for an annual physical is a good first step to getting a thorough health evaluation, assessing your risks and getting recommendations on what screenings you should receive. Here is a quick check list of screenings to consider:

  • Yearly mammograms for women 50+
  • Prostate cancer testing for men 50+
  • CT scan for lung cancer; especially for current and previous smokers
  • Colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer for 45+
  • Skin checks with the dermatologist yearly, depending on risk for skin cancer

2. Increase physical activity

Physical activity and regular exercise are just plain good for you. From your heart health to your mental health to reducing your risk of cancer, the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle is a simple yet effective way to stay healthy. The American Cancer Society recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. Moderate exercise can include playing golf, practicing yoga, going for a walk or a bicycle ride. As you age, your ability to perform certain activities changes so be sure to check with your doctor to identify activities that best suit your ability and health goals.

3. Stop smoking

If you smoke or use tobacco, quit. Eliminating tobacco use is one of the best health decisions you can make. And it is low hanging fruit when it comes to cancer prevention. Tobacco use is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer and is a contributor to mouth, throat, cervical, and bladder cancer. If you think it’s too late to quit, it’s not. Your body will begin recovering from tobacco use almost immediately after you quit and will significantly reduce your risk of cancer.

4. Minimize stress

Few people recognize the effects that stress has on our health. An overwhelming level of stress can and does impact the body and/or the brain, which contributes to health issues. It is unclear if stress has a direct correlation to cancer, but we know that when the body experiences stress, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine are released, which stimulate cancer cells and can make existing cancer spread faster. Consider spending some time reflecting on what might be causing stress in your life and evaluate how to limit it or omit it altogether. A professional counselor or mental health practitioner can be very helpful in conducting this evaluation. Exercise, yoga and meditation are also helpful tools for reducing stress. 

5. Eat a balanced diet

Although what you eat can’t guarantee cancer prevention, it can definitely reduce your risk. Consider these options when evaluating how your dietary habits can impact your health:

  • Maintain a healthy weight

Being over or underweight is one of the most common risk factors for a variety of health issues including cancer. In fact, obesity is linked to a higher risk of getting 13 kinds of cancer including: breast, colon and rectum, kidney, liver, thyroid and others as listed by the CDC.

  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

We’ve all heard people recommend filling the plate with produce rich in color. Consuming three balanced meals a day is a key factor to a healthy diet. This means including an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other plants such as whole grains and beans as well as lean meats and fish for protein.

  • Limit alcohol intake

The Mayo Clinic states that the risk for several types of cancer can increase based on alcohol consumption and the length of time you’ve been drinking regularly. Consider limiting daily alcohol intake or stopping altogether to decrease your risk of cancer.

  • Limit processed meats

Processed meats are meats that are preserved by smoking or salting, curing or adding chemical preservatives. Examples include deli meats, bacon and hot dogs. Processed meats increase your cancer risk because when these meats are preserved, cancer-causing substances form and that are ingested when you consume the meat. 

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and yet one of the most preventable. To minimize your risk of skin cancer, incorporate these tips:

  • Use sunscreen daily
  • Avoid tanning beds
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible
  • Avoid strong rays during the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Cover exposed skin as much as possible

Cancer is a leading cause of death, taking the lives of over 10 million people worldwide in 2021 according to WebMD. Thanks to innovations in health care and research, today we know more about the causes of cancer, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. Beginning by following the tips we’ve shared is an important step to protecting your health and boosting your immune system to help prevent cancer and other diseases.

Adobe Care & Wellness is committed to helping its members live a healthier quality of life by providing proactive case management services and conducting at home assessments and visits. We take a holistic approach and utilize healthcare technology innovations to help individuals incorporate tools that protect against injury, prevent illnesses including cancer, and improve overall health. To learn more about Adobe Care & Wellness and the services and resources it provides its members to live a healthier, better quality of life, please contact us.

fall prevention

Fall prevention for seniors

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths in adults over the age of 65? Death rates in the U.S. resulting from falls increased 30 percent from 2007 to 2016 in older adults.  If the rates continue to rise, the CDC states that we can anticipate seven fall deaths every hour by 2030. Fall prevention in seniors is challenging but with the right action and measures implemented, we can lessen the risk of a detrimental outcome.

What makes a senior more likely to experience a fall?

There are many risk factors at play that contribute to falling. Here is a list of the most common ones:

  • Vision issues and/or problems: Poor visibility is a big risk factor for many seniors. It can cause a lapse in concentration or an inability to properly navigate obstacles or depth while walking.
  • Home hazards: Hazards can be categorized as uneven surfaces or broken steps, throw rugs, and clutter in the home.
  • Medications that effect balance: Medications that can impact balance include antidepressants, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers. In addition, some over the counter (OTC) medications can cause dizziness. Always consult a pharmacist before starting a new prescription or taking a pill that you have never taken before.
  • Poor footwear: Ill-fitting shoes can contribute to a variety of conditions such as ingrown toenails, bunions, and hammertoe. Many of these conditions can also affect balance and cause complications or difficulties that often set a senior up to experience fall.
  • Vitamin D deficiency: Can lead to a loss of bone density, which can cause osteoporosis and contribute to fractures and/or broken bones. Vitamin D levels are also linked to sleep quality. Supplementation is the main treatment for adults over the age of 65.

Understanding the side effects of falls in seniors

When a senior experiences a fall, it doubles the chances of falling again, according to a study that looked at risk factors for falls and injurious falls among the community dwelling elderly. Not all falls result in injury, however those that fall and don’t experience a breakage or injury, often become afraid of falling again, which results in the person becoming less active. This too has detrimental effects including loss of independence, muscle weakness and depression.

If a person falls and breaks a hip, leg or arm, they may be hospitalized and need to spend time in a rehab center until they are able to move with minimal assistance. This too can lead to a weakening of muscle strength and difficulty returning to normal daily activities.

A more serious injury to the head can be particularly worrisome for a person on blood thinners. It’s imperative that an older person who experiences a fall and hits their head consults their healthcare provider immediately and rules out a brain injury.

4 tips for preventing falls in seniors

  1. Speak with your healthcare provider – A risk evaluation should be conducted if you believe you or a loved one are at an increased danger of falls. Consult your physician and discuss specific things you can do to prevent the probability of falling.
  2. Prioritize strength and balance exercises – Join a senior fitness class or practice exercises at home that focus on building lower body strength and balance. The benefits of exercise as you age are far-reaching.
  3. Make your home safer – Remove trip hazards and clutter to create clear pathways in the home. Have safety rails placed in bathrooms, stairways, or other parts of the home where access may be trickier, and safety is compromised.
  4. Schedule annual eye doctor appointments – It is recommended to have a complete eye care exam yearly to assess your risk of serious conditions that can cause changes in vision.

Adobe Care & Wellness is committed to helping its members make their homes a safe place to live by conducting at home assessments and visits. We take a holistic approach to our case management services and utilize healthcare technology innovations to help prevent illness and injury and improve overall health. While acute settings are critical to care, chances of hospitalization can be reduced when steps for prevention are taken. To learn more about Adobe Care & Wellness and the services and resources it provides its members to live a healthier better quality of life, contact us here.

 

social determinants of health

How Adobe Care & Wellness is addressing the social determinants of health

Globally, there is strong evidence that people who are impoverished and/or lacking education are more likely to have health issues and die earlier than those who are more affluent and have greater access to education. Social determinants of health can be grouped into 5 categories and are considered to be the conditions in which people are born into, grow, live, work and age.

The five key areas or categories as outlined by healthypeople.gov include:

  1. Economic Stability
  2. Education
  3. Social and Community Context
  4. Health Care Access
  5. Neighborhood and Built Environment

How Adobe Care & Wellness positively impacts the lives it touches

The combination of proactive care and case management with the use of innovative healthcare solution, allows the Adobe Care & Wellness team to identify and address social determinants head on. This begins with providing better access to health care for members that are at risk and/or live in rural communities. It begins with utilizing technology to determine the risks and adding the human touch to monitor and aid, addressing both social and physical issues.

In our mission to help individuals live a healthier quality of life, Adobe Care & Wellness developed a number of resources. First, is our software application called Maslow; aptly named after Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. We also apply a risk stratification tool designed to help identify social determinants that can put individuals at risk. Our team also uses a proprietary electronic record keeping system built on Salesforce and a program called CareSync.

 

What is Maslow?

To help better understand, the app is designed to identify specific needs around social determinants and then provide users with access to resources that will help address an individual’s particular needs. The user is tasked with answering a brief questionnaire to help detect gaps and social barriers to health. As per the users’ responses, the app will search its extensive database and geolocate resources in the users’ locale which help provide access to food, shelter, transportation and more.

 

What is Risk Stratification?

Adobe’s Risk Stratification tool is an algorithm allowing its team to proactively isolate members within new populations to prevent future hospitalizations. For example, if an individual was recently released from a hospital stay or if they have a chronic health issue that puts them at greater risk of being hospitalized, the case management team will recognize this and provide access to information and/or care. The algorithm has been extremely effective in decreasing health care costs due to hospital readmits, additional medical care requirements and medications, while helping to improve overall health and well-being.

 

Electronic Records provide valuable data points

Adobe Care & Wellness takes a comprehensive approach to managing and tracking records. It allows its technology experts to capture, store, track and analyze data that ultimately improves the efficiency of care. The gathering of this information uses the data points for generating the reports needed to conduct evaluations, determine and deliver care and measure outcomes.

 

How does CareSync work?

CareSync is a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) in-home program specifically designed by Adobe Care & Wellness to provides both in-home extended services and a 30-day episodic care program. You can learn more about what each care plan offers here.

 

A voice for the underrepresented

Our CEO & Founder, Jayme Ambrose is passionate about improving health outcomes for the members that Adobe Call & Wellness serves. She is a voice for those that face adversity,  economic insecurity and a lack of access to quality care and services. Most recently, Ambrose appeared as a guest on The Game-Changing Women of Healthcare podcast. In the episode, Ambrose discusses a meeting she had with a nephrology group whereby she asked: “How often do you ask your patients if they have enough money for food?” The group’s response was that they never thought of it but should. The social determinants dilemma is so often overlooked in the health care community. Ambrose and the Adobe Care & Wellness team have a great deal of hope that delivery of care is going to change. The goal is to make the Adobe Care & Wellness model the model for health care throughout the U.S.

Ambrose says, “Instead of a prescription for a medication that may or may not work, I get a prescription for quality of life that allows me to live as healthy as possible. I mean, that’s what we should be doing for everyone.”

To learn more about the population health solutions Adobe Care & Wellness delivers and its innovative technology contact us here. We work with many insurance companies and healthcare companies in the state Arizona and have plans to deliver our model of care on a nationwide basis

6 Summer Safety Tips for Seniors

Sun exposure provides a valuable dose of vitamin D, but too much time in the sun can pose risks to a variety of health risks including skin cancer, heat stroke, and vision loss. In addition, the high summer temperatures can be especially dangerous for seniors. To help protect yourself and your loved ones, we have put together 6 summer safety tips for seniors to put into practice as they age.

1. Check medications

Before going out in the summer sun, check with your doctor or pharmacy to understand any side effects your medications may have related to sun exposure. Many don’t realize that medications can contain ingredients that make you more sensitive to sunlight, causing severe sunburns, blistering, or toxic or allergic reactions. These include antibiotics, some over-the-counter medications and some diabetes and blood pressure meds. The heat can also reduce the effectiveness of some medications, making it important to store in a cool place. If you are unsure or have any concerns, it is best to speak with your physician directly to ensure your health is protected during the warm summer months.

2. Stay hydrated

Hydration is always important, but when summer hits, staying hydrated is more difficult and  many people don’t realize the health risks dehydration can cause. Seniors are especially susceptible to dehydration as they lose their ability to conserve water as they age. Some seniors can become less aware of their thirst and forget to drink water or other hydrating liquids throughout the day.

3. Protect your skin and eyes

While the summer sun can cause health issues, it’s especially dangerous to your eyes and your skin. Vision loss is already a risk to the elderly and excessive exposure to the sun can irritate the eyes and cause further damage. Wearing sunglasses can protect your vision by shielding your eyes from harmful UV rays. For your skin, it is important to wear sunscreen, a hat, and thin long sleeve clothing to shield from harmful UV rays and protect against skin cancer.

4. Exercise with caution

If your daily exercise usually involves outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, or swimming, you should consider making adjustments to your workout routine during the summer to avoid potential health risks from the heat. Consider taking that morning walk or swim earlier before the sun is overhead and the temperatures are high. Another option is waiting until evening after sunset or exploring new indoor activities such as a stationary bike. If you are outdoors and moving, remember to bring your water. If you are unsure if an activity is safe for you to take on as you age, consult your physician or nurse practitioner.

5. Know signs of heat related illnesses

Heat related illnesses such as dehydration, heatstroke, hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, etc. can be fatal if not caught and treated quickly. To lower your risk, know the signs to look for such as dry skin, headache, lethargy, disorientation, a flushed face, nausea, rapid pulse, dizziness, confusion and high temperature. If you feel any of these symptoms while outside during the summer, call 911.

6. Have emergency contacts

If you are planning to spend an extended period of time outdoors in extreme weather (hot or cold), it is wise to let friends or family know. Even if you’re just gardening or going for a neighborhood walk, keep your mobile phone nearby. Most importantly, prepare a list of emergency phone numbers and have them handy in a place that’s easy-to-access. While summer brings longer and often more relaxing days, taking steps to keep yourself and loved ones safe and healthy from the heat and sun is vital. Yes, it’s the season for vacations, time with family and friends, and enjoying activities outdoors, but for aging individuals it is important to keep summer safety tips for seniors top-of-mind. Remaining healthy and injury free is the best way to enjoy the summer months.

Adobe Health & Wellness is dedicated to helping individuals live a healthier, more active quality of life as they age. To learn more about our case management services and innovative technology for health care visit adobecw.com