Summer is a season to spend time outdoors. While the heat and humidity can be inviting for young people, the elderly respond differently. Excessive heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion. Caregivers should watch for signs of this condition in aging care recipients.

Why is intense heat dangerous for seniors?

Spending significant time outdoors when the temperatures reach scorching levels is not recommended for anyone. The elderly, especially, are vulnerable to worsening health in the extreme heat. The risk for heat-related illnesses increases when they suffer from other health conditions.

Older people’s bodies are unable to adjust to sudden fluctuations in temperature. Age-related changes in their skin cause it to fail to produce enough sweat to cool the body. This means that intense summer heat can be a health risk for aging people.

Additionally, the elderly may live with chronic health conditions that affect how their body normally responds to summer heat. Certain ailments, like heart, lung, or kidney disease, are known to cause aging bodies to be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Most seniors take prescription medications. Certain drugs can reduce the body’s ability to adequately cool itself. Some medicines may affect how their bodies control temperature or sweat. Anticholinergics and antidepressants, for instance, interfere with sweating. Beta-blockers may reduce kidney or heart functioning.

Seniors who live alone or who are unable to provide self-care independently are at a high risk for heat-related conditions. When an aging adult lives alone and becomes ill in extreme heat, oftentimes no one is available to provide life-saving care. It is critical that caregivers check on them frequently.

Similarly, aging adults who are diagnosed with a cognitive impairment or who are limited in mobility can be victims of summer heat. The hot weather combined with their physical or cognitive impairments can make it difficult for them to take care of themselves.

What are signs of heat exhaustion in seniors?

As a result of prolonged exposure to the sun or being overheated for too long, seniors can develop a number of health problems. Heat cramps, heat rash, and heat stroke are possible consequences. Heat exhaustion is another condition that can develop and progress to heat stroke.

• Dizziness, weakness, and nausea: When heat exhaustion occurs, it is a clear warning to the senior that their body is unable to keep itself sufficiently cool. The older adult may begin to feel thirsty, dizzy, or weak. As the senior walks, their steps may be uncoordinated. Nausea or vomiting can also set in.

• Sweating: A senior suffering from heat exhaustion sweats profusely. Sweating is the body’s mechanism for cooling itself when it is overheated. Excessive sweating occurs when the body is consuming its supply of hydration—and the elderly individual is heading toward heat exhaustion.

• Cold and clammy skin: Although their body temperature may read as normal, their skin feels cold and clammy to the touch. The moistness on the senior’s skin and feeling chilled are indications that the individual is in the advanced stages of heat exhaustion. Visible goosebumps mean the senior is extremely overheated.

• Rapid heart rate: A rapid pulse can accompany heat exhaustion in some elderly people. The stress of the heat changes their heart rate, causing this symptom. If a rapid heartbeat occurs, it’s advisable for the senior to stop their current activity and take steps to cool down.

• Headaches: Heat exhaustion is responsible for causing a senior’s heart rate to go up as well as a drop in their blood pressure. When these bodily responses occur, headaches begin. Seniors exerting themselves in the heat and experiencing a headache should take an immediate break.

How do caregivers prevent heat exhaustion?

When the abovementioned signs of heat exhaustion become apparent, caregivers are urged to act quickly. Once heat exhaustion develops, neglecting to cool the body can lead to a heat stroke. If the senior doesn’t feel better soon, it’s important to call for medical help.

Caregivers must check the weather report before taking the senior outside. If temperatures are expected to be high, plan indoor activities. Keep the home as cool as possible by closing the curtains during midday when the heat is at its highest, running the AC or fans, and opening windows at night.

Serve the senior plenty of cool beverages to ensure adequate hydration. Water, fruit, and vegetable juices and drinks that contain electrolytes are healthy choices. Do not offer alcohol or caffeinated beverages since they are diuretics. Notice the color of their urine; brown urine indicates dehydration.

If outdoor activities are essential, caregivers should provide the aging care recipient with sun protection. Provide the senior with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, which protect their skin. Always carry water bottles for the senior when heading outdoors for events or appointments.

During the summer season, it’s important for caregivers to watch for signs of heat exhaustion in their elderly loved ones. When families are unable to regularly check-in with seniors, Assisting Hands Home Care will be an invaluable service. We protect the well-being of seniors in summer and beyond.

Home Care from Assisting Hands

Our professional caregivers provide a range of non-medical home health care services to ensure seniors remain healthy and hydrated. We ensure your senior loved ones drink enough water, shop for fresh groceries, and prepare nutritious meals in accordance with their dietary restrictions.

Care services from Assisting Hands Home Care extend further. We discreetly assist seniors with personal hygiene tasks, like bathing and toileting, and tidy up the home to keep it hygienic. Caregivers also serve as pleasant companions to deter feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

The benefits of senior home care from Assisting Hands Home care are innumerable. Whether your aging loved one needs extra support in summer or any other time of year, our reputable home care agency can help. Call us at  (561) 566-5989 to schedule an in-home consultation, and we’ll develop a customized care plan.

Assisting Hands Palm Beach provides senior home care services for senior citizens in BallenIsles,  Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, Wellington, West Palm Beach, FL  and surrounding areas who choose to age in their own homes