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Elder CareTips:
Mastering The Eldercare Maze™
July 15,
2005
Beat the Heat:
Water and the Elderly
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We're coming in to the dog days of summer. 100 Degree days
are here to stay for a while. Some people aren't only
dealing with the heat outside. Storms and other
complications have left lots of people without electricity
for air conditioning and other comforts for days. All of
these things coming together makes for dangerous times for
the elderly.
In the past two days I've had two calls from caregivers
concerned because their elders suddenly changed personality.
One became psychotic for no apparent reason. The other
suddenly was lethargic and very confused. She previously had
no real mental problems.
Both of these seniors went to the emergency room and were
found to be seriously dehydrated. Both received intravenous
fluids and are doing better. But it will take quite a while,
if ever, for them to recover completely.
Seniors are vulnerable to heat. Many don't have efficient
internal heat regulation, so they don't feel the heat
intensely. Many seniors do not sweat as they did when they
were younger. Many are taking medications that dehydrate
their bodies. Diuretics for high blood pressure remove fluid
from the body. Coffee, tea, alcohol and sodas with caffeine
are also diuretics that dehydrate the body.
When they have air conditioning, seniors tend to set their
thermostats warmer than average. Sometimes it's because
their internal temperature regulation is off and they don't
feel the heat. Often it's to save money on the electricity.
They often will run fans instead of lowering their
thermostats. The constant flow of air across the body is
also dehydrating.
The elderly also tend to lose their sense of thirst, so they
aren't prompted by their bodies to drink. Some will resist
drinking because of difficulty getting to the bathroom.
Most of our elderly aren't out in the hot sun playing
baseball or doing strenuous yard work in the summer. The are
less likely to suffer from full-blown heat stroke than
younger people. Chronic dehydration is much more common in
the elderly.
Be alert for sudden changes in your elder throughout the
year. Although dehydration is more common in the summer, it
can happen in any season. If you see any of these symptoms,
get medical attention right away:
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Significant changes in mental
state, such as delirium,
confusion or forgetfulness that isn't normal for the
individual |
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Dizziness |
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Constipation and/or unusual lack of
appetite |
If your elder resists drinking or tends to
forget, try making fluid part of his or her medication
schedule. Just as a pill is taken every so many hours, make
a drink a scheduled event. Four ounces every 2 hours is
usually not so overwhelming. An 8 ounce glass is often much
more than a senior will want to drink at one time. We have
also found that room
temperature or only slightly cooled fluids are usually
preferable to ice cold drinks.
However, flavored ice pops are often a good alternative to a
drink. If your elder can't eat one fast enough, break it
into a small cup or bowl with high sides and serve it with a
spoon.
Did your mother take her pills out of
their containers and mix them up? Or maybe you found a pill
on the floor and you'd like to know what it is? If you don't
have a
Pill Book handy with pictures of the most common
medications in the U.S. (I strongly recommend that you get
one) the
Pill Identification Wizard
might be able to give
you the information you need.
| Birthdays are good for
you. The more you have, the longer
you live. |
Elder CareTip:
Money Management
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If you have concerns about your elder's
money management, but you aren't ready to take his financial
independence away completely, open a separate account with a
limited amount of money. He can use that account to write
small checks but he can't lose his life savings to a bogus
charity or con game.
| Whatever you do, you need
courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is
always someone to tell you you are wrong. There are
always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe
that your critics are right. To map out a course of
action and follow it to the end requires some of the
same courage which a soldier needs.
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