By Bob Gregory,
The calendar indicates that September is just around the
corner but that doesn't mean cooler weather is just a week away. It’s still
very hot outside and high temperatures can be very stressful on all of us but
even more so for our elderly. The
elderly are less adaptable to high temperatures and therefore more likely to
suffer from hyperthermia or heat exhaustion.
Further, high temperatures can easily escalate certain medical
conditions and some medications may cause dehydration during periods of high
temperatures. In the case of the body
reaching temperatures of 104 or greater, heat stroke becomes a serious risk! So what precautions should the elderly take to
avoid heat related illnesses?
Here are some tips to avoid heat related illnesses:
- Stay cool! Sounds simple but staying cool may be difficult if you don’t have air conditioning. Try wearing light weight and loose fitting clothing.
- Avoid going out in the middle of the day and limit your physical activities. Perform chores and run errands in early morning or late afternoon.
- Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to stay hydrated and avoid too much caffeine
- Cover your windows to
block the sun and its heat
- Use fans to circulate the air but avoid sitting directly in front as of the fan as that may cause dehydration.
- Take frequent, cool showers to keep your body temperature down.
- Seek shade and rest often if you must be outside.
- Spend time at a community center or mall that has air conditioning.
- Consult with your physician or pharmacist regarding medication and dehydration.
- Know the warning signs of heat related illnesses.
- Run appliances that cause heat such as the oven, stove, clothes dryer or iron only in the early morning or late afternoon.
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| Heat Exhaustion (Photo credit: Alex Clark) |
Traveling can be a hassle any time but especially when the
weather is very hot. However, it may be
worth the trip if you have relatives that have air conditioning and someone who
can help keep an eye on you and your health.
If you live alone or even with your spouse, make sure you have a friend
stay in touch with you to make sure you are doing alright as you fight this hot
weather. If you have an elderly parent
or friend, check on them often and visit whenever possible. It’s easier to notice signs of heat related
illnesses when you see someone as opposed to speaking on the phone. Also, familiarize yourself with the symptoms
of heat illnesses and always error on the side of caution if you feel medical
treatment is advisable.
Warning Signs of Heat Exhaustion:
·
Excess
and heavy sweating
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| Heat Stroke (Photo credit: Choconancy1) |
·
Muscle
cramps
·
Dizziness
or fainting
·
Headache
·
Nausea
or vomiting
Warning Signs of Heat Stroke:
·
Extremely
high body temperature (above 103° F orally)
·
Red,
hot and dry skin with no visible signs of sweating
·
Throbbing
Headache
·
Dizziness
and Nausea
·
Confusion
·
Unconsciousness
Knowing these warning signs and acting can help save a
life. As I mentioned earlier, error on
the side of caution and involve professional medical help early. Anyone who has ever cared for an elderly
person also knows many of the above warning signs are common to other issues
and the heat can exasperate other issues as well. There are several steps you
can take in the event you believe someone is suffering from a heat related
illness. The most important is to seek
medical treatment—I can’t stress this enough.
What to do if you believe someone is suffering from heat
related illness:
·
Seek
professional medical help!
·
Get
the individual to a cool shady place.
·
Provide
cool non alcoholic beverages to drink
·
Get
them into a cool shower or bath.
·
Loosen
clothing and remove any excess layers of cloths
Summer may be with us for
quite a while so don’t let the date on your calendar trick you into dropping
your guard when it comes to heat related illnesses. Enjoy the rest of your summer but please take
care of yourself and your elderly parents!
If you would like a list Independent Living Facilities, 55+
Communities, Assisted Living Facilities or any other type of Senior Facility, I
hope you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.
If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas,
please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people
care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about.
We look forward to reading yours.
Bob Gregory is an advocate
for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated
to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide
their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or
other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com
