Specialized Information for:
Nursing HomesAssisted Living/Board & Care Home and Community Based ServicesJuly 08, 2016
NOTE: This information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Summer is in full swing and heat can have serious effects on one’s health. Heat stress can affect older adults more than younger people for several reasons:
1. Older adults don't adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
2. They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
3. They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.
The good news is you can follow prevention tips to protect you from heat-related stress. It’s also important to learn the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion and what to do in case of an emergency.