Elderly Heat Risks
Senior citizens can be more prone to heat stress than younger people-->By: Ray Doughty
Updated: June 26, 2012
Senior citizens are more prone to heat stress than younger people, so you might want to check on your elderly loved ones during those especially hot days this summer.
A blood pressure check is part of the weekly visit from registered nurse Martin McDonald.
With the heat he's also looking for signs of fatigue, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.
The nurse pinches the man's wrist to conduct what he calls a 'skin trigger.'
"An indication of exhaustion might be when they're pale, so we want to make sure the color is a healthy color, also that if they're perspiring much that can also lead to exhaustion from heavy sweating," said Martin McDonald, a registered nurse.
He'll see five patients a day, checking on clothing and conditions in the house.
But in heat waves it's important that people check on their elderly neighbors.
"Check to see if they're doing ok, what kind of conditions the house is in, make sure that they have a cool environment, that they have fans or air conditioning," said Jeff Berman of VNA health care.
The nurse there says the elderly tend to lose what he calls their thirst drive.
A blood pressure check is part of the weekly visit from registered nurse Martin McDonald.
With the heat he's also looking for signs of fatigue, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.
The nurse pinches the man's wrist to conduct what he calls a 'skin trigger.'
"An indication of exhaustion might be when they're pale, so we want to make sure the color is a healthy color, also that if they're perspiring much that can also lead to exhaustion from heavy sweating," said Martin McDonald, a registered nurse.
He'll see five patients a day, checking on clothing and conditions in the house.
But in heat waves it's important that people check on their elderly neighbors.
"Check to see if they're doing ok, what kind of conditions the house is in, make sure that they have a cool environment, that they have fans or air conditioning," said Jeff Berman of VNA health care.
The nurse there says the elderly tend to lose what he calls their thirst drive.
