The recent good weather has us flocking to the beaches,
seeking out the shade and ensuring we are well protected with effective sun creams.
Whilst we all need to exercise caution during the
warm spell, older people are at increased risk of heat related illness,
especially if they live alone, have medical conditions or take certain
medicines.
In many cases being frail, not able to move as
easily or having dementia can affect an elderly person’s ability to take
adequate care of themselves in hot weather.
Home Instead Senior Care Waterford has issued
guidelines and advice to enable people to put together a plan for how to assist
an older person to cope during extreme heat.
• Arrange to check on an older person twice a day if
you can during extreme heat, especially if he/she lives alone. If possible, do
not rely on just talking on the phone, as you need to be able to make sure they
are drinking enough water and assess any changes to their physical condition,
• Make sure the older person has a phone which will
work during a power failure. If they have a safety alarm pendant, make sure
this will work if the power was off.
• If an older person seems to be suffering from heat
stress, they need to be cooled down immediately. Use cool baths, showers, or
place cool, wet towels on their neck and underarms.
• Call a doctor or an ambulance if an older person’s
condition does not improve within an hour after taking steps to cool them down,
or if they have any heat related symptoms that are causing concern.
• People caring for others also need to look after
themselves in extreme heat, or they put at risk their own health as well as
their ability to care for others.
Keeping Cool:
Try to encourage the older person to take
simple steps to keep cool such as: rinsing a cloth in cool water and using it
to wipe their arms and neck; sleeping with just a sheet over them; putting
their feet in a bowl of cool water; making ice cubes from water or cordial and
sucking them to keep cool; and/or putting a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan
to create a cool breeze.
Clothing and personal aids
Encourage them to wear light coloured, loose
fitting clothing. Sunscreen should always be worn by an older person, even if
they only go outside for a short time, as their skin is much thinner and can
burn easily. A wide-brimmed hat that shades the face and covers the head is
advisable if going outdoors in the heat.
Sunglasses should always be worn outside but make
sure they are taken off before going inside to prevent an accident. Pausing
inside for a few minutes is a good idea to help eyes adjust from the bright
sunlight.
Check that wheelchairs, walkers and other metal
equipment that may be used by an older person do not become hot to touch, as
this can cause a burn.
Eating and drinking
Older people may not always be able to tell when
they are thirsty so encourage them to drink water regularly, unless their
doctor has advised them to limit the amount of fluid they drink. It is a good idea for an older person to have
a water bottle with them at all times in the heat to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Encourage them to eat smaller meals more often
during hot weather. Using stoves or ovens less often also keeps the temperature
cooler in their home and reduces the risk of accidentally leaving them on.
Medicines
If they take prescribed medicines, they must
continue to take these during periods of extreme heat. Some medicines can make an older person more
prone to sunburn and heat stress, so extra care should be taken to watch for
signs that they are becoming affected by the heat. If you need more advice on
particular medicines, speak to a pharmacist or a G.P.
If you are concerned about a senior family member or
friend, call Home Instead Senior Care Waterford on 051 333966 or visit www.homeinstead.ie.
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