Hot Weather Safety Tips for Seniors

Heat Is Always A Threat

Extreme heat is a leading cause of preventable death among seniors and with recent record-breaking temperatures, it is important seniors and caregivers know how to stay safe in hot weather. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more people in the United States die from extreme heat than earthquakes, hurricanes, lightning, floods and tornadoes combined. Of these preventable heat-related deaths, seniors account for 40 percent.

Age Effects Body Regulation

As we age, we gradually lose the ability to perspire and regulate our body temperature. This is why older people tend to overdress — they don’t feel heat the same way anymore. Heart rates do not speed up-or return to normal-as fast during exercise. Older skin also thins and offers less protection from the sun. Poor circulation, heart, lung and kidney diseases, and high blood pressure increase the risk for heat-related illness. Being overweight or underweight also increases risk.

Medications taken for a variety of diseases and symptoms can also interfere with one’s ability to manage hotter weather. These medications include antipsychotic drugs commonly given to Alzheimer’s patients to control agitation, anticholinergic drugs, tranquilizers, sedatives (including over-the-counter sleeping pills), amphetamines, diuretics and drugs to control blood pressure, antihistamines, and some antidepressants.

Heat and Dementia Are Deadly Partners

A person with cognitive impairment, whether from disease or injury, may not be able to communicate distress. In some cases, they may not even “feel” the heat or discomfort because of changes in the brain’s abilities to process sensory information or regulate their body’s responses to heat.

An Ounce of Prevention . . .

Seniors can prevent a heat-related emergency (hyperthermia) by watching for signs of heat stress and following these tips for dealing with hot weather:

• If possible seek an air-conditioned environment. If you do not have air-conditioning at home, visit an air-conditioned shopping mall, restaurant or library. During extreme heat warnings, cities often set up cooling centers for the public to escape the heat. If you cannot leave your home, take a cool shower or place cool towels around pulse points such as the neck and armpits.
• Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages without too much sugar. When the body sweats, it loses vital salts and minerals, so grab a sports drink or a Pedialyte. If your liquid intake is limited, eat cold fruits that contain high amounts of water like apples, watermelon and cantaloupe.
• Stay out of the sun during the warmest parts of the day—usually between 10 or 11 am and 3 or 4 pm—and wear weather appropriate clothing that is loose fitting with light fabrics.
• Use a buddy system. Ask a friend or relative to call and check on you twice a day. If you know someone 60 or older, call to check on them twice a day.
• Hire a caregiver from a reputable agency that specializes in in-home senior care and who is trained in senior safety. They can provide care on an hourly or live-in basis, depending on the senior's needs.

Being aware of these strategies, as well as signs and symptoms of a heat-induced episode, can help you to proactively avoid problems so that you can safely enjoy your summer.