Help Your Older Loved Ones Beat the Heat This Summer
As the temps creep up during the dog days of summer, it's important to keep a check on your senior-aged family and friends to help them avoid heat-related illnesses.
The OhanaLink™ Health app helps caregivers, family, and friends connect to help watch over an older loved one during the hot summer months. Daily check-ins can be assigned and managed through the app’s Planner. Also, the Chat feature eliminates the chaos group texting creates by having everyone communicate in a private environment to exchange information about your loved one – the one who matters most.
Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions states that older adults have an increased sensitivity to heat due to various age-related changes, including a decrease in total body fluid volume, a decline in sweat gland activity, and a decrease in thirst sensation. Also, according to the National Weather Service, older adults, especially those with pre-existing diseases, taking certain medications, are living alone, or have limited mobility, can experience multiple adverse effects if exposed to extreme heat.
But, heat-related illnesses have symptoms that, if recognized early, can be treated before they turn into emergencies.
Heat Exhaustion Versus Heat Stroke
Because health-related illnesses are preventable, it’s essential to know if a loved one is showing any signs. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two different types of heat-related illnesses with varying symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outline the following signs to look for and what to do if you suspect someone is experiencing heat stroke or heat exhaustion:
Heat Stroke Symptoms
- High body temperature (103 °F or higher)
- Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
- Fast, strong pulse
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness (passing out)
What You Should Do
- Call 911 right away as heat stroke is a medical emergency
- Move the person to a cooler place
- Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
- Do not give the person anything to drink
Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
- Heavy sweating
- Cool, pale, and clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness or weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fainting
What You Should Do
- Move the person to a cooler place
- Loosen their clothes
- Put cool, wet cloths on their body or get them into a cool bath
- Sip water
- Get medical help immediately if they are vomiting, their symptoms worsen, or their symptoms last longer than one hour
Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses Before They Happen
The best way to decrease an older adult’s risk for heat-related illnesses is to prevent them before they happen. Drexel provides the following tips for older adults to follow:
- Avoid outdoor activity during the middle of the day. Complete outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Take cool showers, or place a cool towel across the back of the neck.
- Set an alarm for every hour while awake as a reminder to drink water.
- Keep air conditioners or fans on, and close blinds/curtains during the middle of the day.
- If you do not have an air conditioner, make a plan to spend the afternoon hours in a cool location during extreme heat. For example, visit your local library, senior center, coffee shop, etc.
- Do not use the stove or oven. Instead, prepare light, cool meals and snacks.
If you are a caregiver, it’s important to call your older loved one every day. If they sound confused or don’t answer, visit them to make sure they are okay, their house or apartment is cool enough, and that they have enough water and food supplies as well.
