Ask the Expert

Hot Weather Tips for Caregivers

We all suffer in hot weather. However, for elderly and disabled people and those with chronic health conditions such as vascular disease or diabetes, the weather does not have to hit 100 degrees to cause heat stress or even deadly heat stroke.

As we age, we gradually lose the ability to perspire and regulate our body temperature. Increasing the risk for heat-related illness are poor circulation; heart, lung, and kidney diseases; and high blood pressure. Being overweight or underweight also increases risk.

Medications taken for a variety of diseases and symptoms can also interfere with one's ability to manage hotter weather. These medications include antipsychotic drugs commonly given to Alzheimer's patients to control agitation, anticholinergic drugs, tranquilizers, sedatives (including over-the-counter sleeping pills), amphetamines, diuretics and drugs to control blood pressure, antihistamines, and some antidepressants.

A person with cognitive impairment, whether from disease or injury, may not be able to communicate distress. Caregivers should take necessary precautions during hot weather to keep loved ones safe.

Tips for Staying Cool

Caregivers can prevent a heat-related emergency (hyperthermia) by keeping a loved one cool, watching for signs of heat stress, and following the following tips for dealing with hot weather:

  • Wear cool clothing: See that the person is dressed in light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, preferably of natural fabrics like cotton. Use hats and umbrellas outside.
  • Use air conditioning: Keep the air conditioning on below 80 degrees (Farenheight). If you don't have air conditioning, invest in a room air conditioner or use room fans to circulate inside air.
  • Cover windows: During the day, pull the curtains on all windows that are in direct sunlight. Open windows at night and use fans or cross-ventilation to circulate cooler air. (An open, uncovered window during the day will simply make the inside temperature the same as outside.)
  • Avoid direct sun: Stay indoors during the hottest hours, between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drive as close to the door of destinations as possible, and never leave the person in the car where temperatures can soar quickly.
  • Eliminate or limit physical activity: If the person's physician approves light exercise such as walking and movement exercises, limit them to short periods during cool hours. Eliminate entirely on very hot days.
  • Drink plenty of fluids: Give the person plenty of water and fruit or vegetable juice even if they say they're not thirsty. No alcohol, coffee, or tea. Seek medical help if you suspect dehydration.
  • Light meals: Avoid hot, heavy meals and don't use the oven.
  • Monitor medications: Find out if the person's medications increase his or her risk for heat stress. Be sure to ask a physician about all the medications being taken, including off-the-shelf items.
  • Take cool baths or showers: Help the person to take a cooling bath or bath. Lay a cool, moistened towel over the forehead or back of the neck and replace often.
  • Check in often: If the person lives alone, check in daily or ask a neighbor to look in several times a day. If the person is in a nursing home or other facility, make sure the facility has a plan for dealing with rising temperatures and is following the tips mentioned above.
  • Be alert: Remember that a cognitively-impaired person may not be able to tell you when he or she is feeling hot or ill. Also, older people tend to feel colder than younger people so they may not sense the danger of hotter weather.

If you are caring for an elderly or disabled person, learn the signs of heat-related problems. Seek medical attention if you or the person you are caring for begins to experience heat stress. For more information, use the online resources listed under QUICK CLICKS in this newsletter (at right).

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