The “Dog Days of Summer” will be here before you know it. It is not even July, and the temperatures are in the 90s and the heat index is even higher. The Weather Channel predicts a hot one this year for everyone, but for seniors over 65, they are the most vulnerable to dehydration and heat stroke because many of them have health problems. So, with heat indexes in triple digits, it is important for everyone to pay attention to the time they spend outside, the thermometer inside, and most importantly, pay attention to senior neighbors, family members, or clients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that caretakers for seniors need to visit and check on seniors at least twice a day and make sure their clients are doing the following: drinking lots of water, have access to air conditioning, ensuring they know how to stay cool, and make sure they are not showing any signs of heat stress.
The National Institute on Aging warns older adults about being overheated too long or being exposed to the sun without protection. This can cause many health problems and heat-related illnesses, such as heat syncope, which is a sudden dizziness that can happen when active in hot weather. If you take a heart medication (beta blocker) or are not acclimated to hot weather, you are more likely to feel faint. If you do, rest in a cool place, put your legs up, and drink water to make the dizzy feeling subside.
Heat edema is another problem seniors may suffer as a result of sun exposure. This is the swelling in the ankles and feet when getting too hot. If you experience this reaction, put your legs up to help reduce the swelling, but if that doesn’t work fairly quickly, check with your doctor.
For older adults, there are many factors that put them at risk for heat-related illnesses and death. For example, health problems such as cardiovascular, lung, or kidney disease; changes in skin caused by normal aging; any illnesses that causes weakness or results in a fever; taking drugs such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some heart and high blood pressure medicines that may make it harder for the body to cool itself. Also, being on several prescription drugs at the same time, or being obese, overweight, or even underweight can cause heat-related illnesses.
According to the CDC, between 2004-2018, an average of 702 heat-related deaths were reported each year in the elderly. During that time, on average, 287 people died from heat-related causes each year.
Avoiding outside activities during the heat of the day is important, but if it can’t be avoided, be sure to take the necessary precautions to stay hydrated, cool, and be aware of the signs of an oncoming heatstroke.
Victims of heat stroke may experience headache, dizziness, lack of sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heart rate and fainting. If any of these symptoms are present, it is important to call 911 and cool down the patient’s body temperature while waiting for an ambulance. This can be done by placing them in an air-conditioned room, or a shady area and remove any unnecessary clothing, and most importantly, give them water to drink when they come to because hydration is vital.
Older people are more vulnerable to the heat and can’t cope with it as well because they don’t sweat as effectively and have poorer circulation. Coupled with obesity, heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that require medications, such as diuretics, their bodies are already struggling to stay hydrated. But, there are ways to protect them from the sting of summer.
The CDC has several suggestions for a safe summer for seniors—stay cool, stay hydrated.
• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If there is no A/C in the home, contact the local health department to locate a cooling station in the area. For the elderly, a local senior center or library is a great place to stay cool and enjoy socializing with other seniors.
• Do not rely on a fan as a main cooling source when it is extremely hot outside. If a senior does not like the A/C, to keep the house cooler, close curtains or blinds on the east side of the house during the morning and the west side during the afternoon.
• Stay hydrated. Make sure to drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you are thirsty. If you are on medications that limit the amount of fluids, call the doctor or pharmacist to determine how much you can drink during hot weather.
• Don’t use the stove or oven to cook because it just heats the house even more. A cool sandwich and salad is better and more refreshing or use the microwave.
• Wear loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing. Cotton fabrics are cooler than synthetic fibers.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down, and avoid the mid-day sun and heat between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Also, be sure to pay attention to the heat index, the higher the index, the harder it is for the body to cool down.
• Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
• Check on friends and neighbors, and if you do not have a caregiver, be sure to have someone do the same for you.
• For seniors who do not have an air conditioner or can’t afford one, contact a local organization that may be able to help or direct you to someone who can. Organizations like Aging Matters, local caring councils, or USDA may be able to assist or direct you to sources that can help.
Summer can be fun, but for “aging gracefully,” stay smart, stay hydrated, and stay cool!