Tips for Keeping Senior Loved Ones Safe in the Heat

Heat kills more Americans in a typical year than any other weather disaster - more than hurricanes, tornadoes, fires or any other – according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unfortunately, we have already seen at least 30 people die in the heat wave that has gripped much of the U.S. to kick off Summer 2012. As in most years, senior adults make up most of those deaths, a fact driving Senior Care Corner to offer tips for keeping senior loved ones safe in hot weather.
Seniors are most often hit hardest by hot weather because their systems often don’t adjust as well to extreme changes in temperature as do those of people who are younger. On top of that, many are taking medications or have medical conditions that affect their ability to cope with temperature changes, which is compounded because they often don’t recognize thirst and can quickly become dehydrated in the heat, compounding their illness. This makes it most important to plan ahead to protect older adults who are aging in place during periods of very hot weather for their location, especially for family caregivers who live at a distance.
“The most important part of planning is assuring senior loved ones ride out extreme heat in air conditioning” says Barry Birkett of Senior Care Corner. “If their home is not air conditioned we need to arrange to get them to the home of someone who is or a location such as a mall where they can relax out of the heat.”
Planning Ahead to Protect Seniors from Severe Heat

If their home has air conditioning, make sure it’s in good working order with regular inspections to minimize the risk it will quit on the hottest day.

Make sure senior loved ones use the air conditioning when they have it. Financial strains have driven many to cut back, but keeping the A/C off on the hottest days can be deadly.

For those living in homes without air conditioning, agree on plans for them to go to a location that has it, including arranging in advance for transportation when needed.

Stress upon them the need to drink a lot of cool, nonalcoholic beverages –especially water - in the heat, even if not thirsty.

Check in on senior loved ones who are aging in place at least twice a day in extreme heat, even if they have air conditioning. Talking on the phone may not be sufficient to determine if they are suffering from the heat, so those living at a distance may want to arrange in advance for Skype video calls.
Taking these precautions won’t guarantee senior loved ones stay safe from heat-related illness or worse, but they will improve the chances they won’t become one of the summer statistics.
About Senior Care Corner

Senior Care Corner (on the web at SeniorCareCorner.com) provides solutions, information and tools to family caregivers and others who care for and about senior adults to help them improve the lives of the seniors in their lives. Their blog, biweekly podcast and bookstore address a wide variety of topics family caregivers can use to better understand the wants and needs of their senior loved ones.

Originally posted at http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/7/prweb9679810.htm.

Check on Seniors During the Heat Wave

With the heat approaching 100 degrees in Atlanta today, it’s time to review helpful hints for older adults during a heat wave.

More than 400 people die during heat waves each year in the U.S. Older people do not handle the heat as well as younger people because they do not sweat effectively and they may have poor circulation. Obesity, heart disease, dementia, diabetes and other chronic medical conditions can compound the risk. So can certain medications, especially diuretics or those prescribed for hypertension and Parkinson's disease.

• Caregivers should stay on the alert for signs of confusion or altered mental states in seniors who are out in hot weather, as it could be a sign of heat stroke


• Get seniors into an air-conditioned building; have them dress lightly; and keep themselves hydrated. This may be easier said than done, as many seniors complain of being cold in an air conditioned room.


• If elderly relative complain to being too cold, turn up the air conditioner. If they refuse to stay inside, have them sit in a shady area under near a fan.


• Close curtains or blinds on the sunny side of the house.


• If the elderly person refuses to use their air conditioner, make sure that they spend at least some time in a cool air conditioned environment each day. If seniors need a cool place to go, they may visit any Fulton County Neighborhood Senior Center during the week days.


• Offer drinks that the seniors prefer, but stay away from caffienated drinks or sodas loaded with sodium. Do not serve alcohol which is dehydrating.


• Keep frozen treats available that high water and low sugar content or serve fruit like watermelon.


• Make sure that seniors wear lightweight clothing, light in color, and not form-fitting. Hats are useful but make sure that they are loosely woven or ventilated so that they don’t trap hear. Wear broad-brimmed hats to shade the entire face.

SCS in the News

Recently, Senior Citizen Services was featured in several news stories regarding the current heat wave. SCS provided air conditioners and fans to seniors.

Check out Erin Coleman’s report on WSB-TV Channel 2:
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/24174339/index.html

Corinna Allen of CBS 46 profiled the work of Georgia Natural Gas and SCS:
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/24180325/index.html

WABE’s Rose Scott interviewed Jeff Smythe on July 7:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1672486/news/Fulton.County.Senior.Centers.Offer.Resources.To.Beat.The.Heat

Seniors and Heat-related Illness

As we near records for high temperatures and poor air quality, we want to make sure you have the information you need to stay safe and healthy. Senior citizens are at high risk of heat-related illnesses; this risk is increased by some medications and health conditions. Stay cool, stay informed, and please check on your elderly neighbors.

Here is some information provided by the CDC:

Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

• Warning signs may include:
• extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F)
  red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• rapid, strong pulse
• throbbing headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• confusion
• unconsciousness

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

• Warning signs may include:
  
• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• cool, moist skin
• fast, weak pulse
• fast, shallow breathing
  
  

Preventing and Managing Heat

DO:
Take a cool shower or bath.
Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level.
Check with your physician if your fluid intake is generally limited or if you take water pills.
Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place.
Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses, and put on sun screen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels).
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
If you must be outside, drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and try to rest often in shady areas.
If your home is not air conditioned, spend time in a public library, shopping mall, or senior center. A list of senior centers and public libraries in Fulton County are at the bottom of this post.


DON’T:
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar - these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Don’t stay outside in the hottest part of the day, if you can help it.
NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.

Fulton County Senior Centers

Auburn Neighborhood Senior Center 300 Edgewood Avenue Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-224-3140

Bethlehem Neighborhood Senior Center 87 Thayer Street Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-577-6017

Camp Truitt Neighborhood Senior Center 4320 Hershel Road College Park GA 30337 Phone: 404-762-4802

Crabapple Senior Center Crabapple Government Center 12624 Broadwell Rd. Alpharetta, GA. 30004 Phone: 770-751-9397

Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center 1953 Bankhead Highway Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-792-4964

Fairburn Neighborhood Senior Center 109 Milo Fisher Street Fairburn, GA 30213 Phone: 770-306-1555

Hapeville Neighborhood Senior Center 527 Kings Arnold Street Hapeville GA 30354 Phone: 404-762-3696

New Horizons Neighborhood Senior Center 745 Orr Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30314 Phone: 404-730-7100

Northside Shepherd Neighborhood Senior Center 1705 Commerce Drive Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-875-0509

Palmetto Neighborhood Senior Center 510 Turner Street Palmetto, GA 30268 Phone: 770-463-4990

Roswell Neighborhood Senior Center 1250 Warsaw Road Roswell, GA 30075 Phone: 770-640-1583

Sandy Springs Neighborhood Senior Center 6500 Vernon Woods Dr. Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-705-4901

St. Paul Neighborhood Senior Center 501 Grant Street Atlanta, GA 30315 Phone: 404-688-7501

Southeast Neighborhood Senior Center 1650 New Town Circle Atlanta, GA 30324 Phone: 404-624-0641

Dorothy C. Benson Senior Multipurpose Facility 6500 Vernon Woods Drive Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-705-4900

Harriett G. Darnell Senior Multipurpose Facility 677 Fairburn Rd. NW Atlanta, GA 30318 Phone: 404-699-8580

Helene S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility 515 John Wesley Dobbs Dr. Atlanta, GA 30312 Phone: 404-523-3353

H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multipurpose Facility 2885 Church Street East Point, GA 30344 Phone: 404-762-4821

Atlanta-Fulton Public Libraries
Adams Park Branch 2231 Campbellton Road SW, Atlanta GA 30311
404-752-8763

Adamsville-Collier Heights Branch 3424 Martin Luther King Jr., Dr., Atlanta GA 30331
404-699-4206

Alpharetta Branch 238 Canton Street, Alpharetta GA 30004
770-740-2425

Auburn Avenue Research Library 101 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30303
404-730-4001

Bowen/Bankhead Branch2685 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy, NW Atlanta, GA 30318
404-792-2646

Buckhead Branch 269 Buckhead Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
404-814-3500

Carver Homes Branch 215 Lakewood Way, Suite 104, Atlanta, GA 30315
404-635-4012

Central Library & Library System Headquarters One Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-730-1700

Cleveland Avenue Branch 47 Cleveland Avenue SW, Atlanta GA 30315
404-762-4116

College Park Branch 3647 Main Street, College Park, Georgia 30337
404-762-4060

Dogwood Branch 1838 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW (formerly Bankhead Ave), Atlanta GA 30318 404-792-4961

East Atlanta Branch 400 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
404-730-5438

East Point Branch 2757 Main Street, East Point GA 30344
404-762-4842

Fairburn Branch 60 Valley View Drive, Fairburn, GA 30213
770-306-3138

Georgia Hill Branch 250 Georgia Avenue SE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312
404-730-5427

Hapeville Branch 525 King Arnold Street, Hapeville, GA 30354
404-762-4065

Kirkwood Branch 11 Kirkwood Road SE, Atlanta GA 30317
404-377-6471

Martin Luther King Jr., Branch 409 John Wesley Dobbs Ave, Atlanta GA 30312
404-730-1185

Mechanicsville Branch 400 Formwalt St SW, Atlanta GA 30312
404-730-4779

Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek GA 30022
770-360-8820

Northside Branch 3295 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta GA 30327
404-814-3508

Ocee Branch5090 Abbotts Bridge Rd.,Johns Creek GA 30005-4601
770-360-8897

Peachtree Branch 1315 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
404-885-7830

Perry Homes Branch 2121 Hollywood Rd NW, Atlanta GA 30318
404-792-4994

Ponce de Leon Branch 980 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404-885-7820

Roswell Branch 115 Norcross St, Roswell GA 30075
770-640-3075

Sandy Springs Branch 395 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
404-303-6130

South Fulton Branch 4055 Flat Shoals Road, Union City, GA 30291-1590
770-306-3092

Southwest Branch3665 Cascade Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
404-699-6363

Stewart-Lakewood Branch 2893 Lakewood Ave. SW, Atlanta GA 30315
404-762-4054

Thomasville Heights Branch 1700 Thomasville Dr SE, Atlanta GA 30315
404-624-0620

Washington Park Branch 1116 Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr., Atlanta GA 30314
404-752-8760

West End Branch 525 Peeples St SW, Atlanta GA 30310
404-752-8740

Heat Stroke Can Occur Indoors

Staying inside is no guarantee of avoiding heat-related dangers. That's especially true if the house is overheated. Many seniors try to cut electric bills by not using air conditioning, but that's not a good idea. Trapped hot air can cause the body to overheat, just like working or exercising outdoors.

At the very least, install a few battery-operated fans in separate rooms and utilize the one in the room that's occupied at any one time. Consider closing drapes and blinds to keep out the sun and rooms cool. Also see if local Department of Aging has options for energy payment or assistance programs for older adults on tight budgets.

Anyone who has older loved ones who mostly stay indoors should check in on them frequently during the summer, even if it's just a phone call. That's especially true for caregivers who knows their loved one tends to keep their air conditioning off.

Defining Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Heat exhaustion is the stage in which the body puts out symptoms that it's getting overheated. Unfortunately, many of these signals are rather mild, and therefore most people find them easy to ignore. Among heat exhaustion's symptoms:

Dry mouth and thirst
Feeling nauseous, sometimes even vomiting
Muscle cramps
Sweating
Headache
Fatigue, perhaps feeling dizzy

Heat stroke is more serious. Among the symptoms of heat stroke:

Deep breathing and fast pulse
Hot, red, skin, but no sweating
Confusion, perhaps even hallucinations
Convulsions

Read more at Suite101: Senior Safety – Avoiding Heat Stroke: Advice Specific to Seniors During Hot Weather http://seniors-health-medicare.suite101.com/article.cfm/watch_out_for_heat_stroke#ixzz0sLEBxKEt

-- by Steve Hargrove, Director of Events and Marketing

Hot Time in the City

Summer has arrived and it is hot already!

Senior citizens and the chronically ill are often more vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures because they perspire less and are more likely to be taking medications that can impair the body's response to heat.

Those medications include antihistamines, heart drugs, over-the-counter sleeping pills, antidepressants, antipsychotics, major tranquilizers and some medications for Parkinson's disease. People should check with their doctor or pharmacist to find out if their medications make them more sensitive to heat.

Seniors on fixed incomes often do not have air conditioning or feel they cannot afford the expense of running it. Fulton County has several neighborhood senior centers that people can visit to avoid the heat. Check out our website for info.

Because many senior citizens live alone, everyone should check on elderly family members and neighbors regularly to be sure they are not suffering from the effects of the heat. If you suspect that someone is having health issues related to the heat, get them to a cooler place; keep them hydrated with water, and call 911.

-- by Steve Hargrove
Director of Events and Marketing