Summer begins next week in the U.S., and many areas are already experiencing heat waves. According to the American Red Cross, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events in recent years.

Older Adults are More Vulnerable

Older adults are more vulnerable to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat Stroke.  Please check on them (in person if you live nearby) and review the steps below to keep them safe when temperatures rise.  You may think they already know and follow these practices, but you may be as surprised as Gary was.

Gary had lunch with his 83-year-old mother last week.  He knew she had become more frail over the past year, but her memory was still sharp.  It was a hot day out so when they returned to her apartment after lunch, he turned the air conditioner on to cool off her home.

The a/c unit has an automatic on-off switch, and it shut off in just a few minutes.  He pushed the switch so the air conditioner re-started and was blowing cool air.  It stopped again very shortly.  His mother asked, “Is it normal for it to go off so soon?”  Gary agreed it wasn’t and took a closer look at the dials.  He realized his mother had it set for the winter, when she didn’t use the air conditioner.  She hadn’t yet changed the settings for the warmer summer weather.

Gary said to me, “I never would have dreamed I’d be explaining to my mother how to use her own air conditioner!  I guess her memory isn’t as good as I thought it was.”

He took extra time to explain the settings again, and made a mental note to himself to:

• Double check the a/c settings next time he’s there
• Write down the settings and how-to’s about the air conditioner unit on paper for his mother to have for future reference
• Put a reminder on his calendar to be sure he does this every year, as well as with the heater when the weather turns cold

Gary now recognizes his mother needs more reminders and closer supervision in her home environment. By seeing her that day for lunch, he likely prevented days of her living in uncomfortable, if not dangerous, temperatures.  And she probably wouldn’t have called Gary to ask about the air conditioner not working properly. Per Gary, one of her favorite expressions is, “I didn’t want to bother you, Dear!”

Preventive Steps to Take

Here are preventive steps to review with older adults to be sure they stay safe and comfortable during the summer heat:

• Along with the air conditioning system, check that any free-standing fans in their homes are in good working order (including the cords). Check they are placed where the fans won’t fall and the electric (and/or extension) cords won’t trip anyone walking nearby.  If there is no air conditioning at home, consider having them visit you, a friend or other places like libraries, movie theaters and shopping malls on scorcher days.

• Drink greater quantities of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Caffeine and alcoholic drinks do not count as water, and can accelerate dehydration. Some doctors suggest sports drinks (for example, Gatorade, Powerade) in addition to water, to replace minerals lost through sweating.

• Some medications can slow down the body’s natural capacity to control body temperature, so ask their doctor if any of the medications they take could cause this side effect and what they should do to avoid problems.

• Take it slow.  The faster you move, the faster your body heats up.  Any outdoor activities should be planned for early morning when it is cooler.  When going out, wear hats and light-colored clothing, preferably made of a cool fabric, such as cotton.  Avoid direct sun as much as possible and use sunscreen with an SPF of 30+.  Even when it seems to be a cloudy day, the UV rays are coming through.

Heat Health Conditions and Symptoms

Dehydration can cause dry, sticky mouth, thirst, irritability or confusion, few or no tears when crying, lack of sweating and urination (urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber), sunken eyes, shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, or headaches.

Heat exhaustion symptoms to be aware of include mild nausea, lightheadedness, vomiting, clammy or cold hands, and excessive sweating.

Heat stroke can be deadly and symptoms include fainting, irregular pulse, body temperature above 104 degrees F, hot and dry flushed skin, mental confusion, ill-temperament, or staggering.

Take your Aging parent, relative or neighbor to the nearest hospital emergency room or call 911 immediately if these symptoms appear because they will need medical attention.  If in doubt, err on the side of caution!

It is possible to keep older adults safe and healthy this summer by being aware and involved in their lives.  Attentive visits will go a long way in preventing heat-related health issues.

Linda Abbit Author, Speaker, Family Caregiving Expert

Linda Abbit is an eldercare professional and caregiver with more than 25 years of experience caring for her parents and other family members. She is the author of "The Conscious Caregiver: A Mindful Approach to Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself," (Simon & Schuster, 2017).

Linda worked for over 10 years in the eldercare and health care professions. In 2021, she retired from her position as Community Outreach Manager for Alzheimer’s Family Center, an adult day health care agency designed solely for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

She currently speaks, leads workshops and assists family caregivers through her book, blog and the Tender Loving Eldercare Facebook page. Her talks are engaging, inspiring and, most importantly, full of real-world practices for new and veteran caregivers to implement in their daily caregiving.

In June 2023, Amy Dickinson recommended Linda's book to family caregivers in her nationally-syndicated column, "Ask Amy."

Linda holds a Master’s degree in Education and was a support group facilitator for the Alzheimer’s Association in Orange County for many years.

Her motto is "Self-care is NOT selfish."