Tall Trees Shares the Proper Care for the Aged in the Summertime
Announcement posted by Tall Trees Care Communities 23 Dec 2013
Aged care professionals provide insight into the dangers of heat stress in the elderly and how to handle it.
Australia, 23 December 2013 - When it comes to aged care, the summer can be some of the tougher months because there are a number of risk factors during this season. Being the hottest time of the year, the rising temperatures can have an adverse effect on the health of any elderly person. Older people are more vulnerable to the effects of heat and being exposed to it for too long can have both short and long term health complications.
Heat stress, also known as hyperthermia, is the primary culprit of summer weather problems and is caused by prolonged exposure to the heat of the sun or staying in a very warm environment. Marked by dizziness, nausea and most notably, dehydration, heat stress is more common in the elderly and can be very dangerous.
Since their bodies are naturally weaker than the average younger person, heat stress is more likely to escalate into heat stroke or react with medications that they may be taking. Therefore, as people age, they need to take better care during the hot months and their caretakers must help with this.
Phil Usher, founder and owner of Tall Trees, a series of communities dedicated to providing aged care in the home, has much experience in the field and knows the risks of heat stress in the elderly. He provides his insight on the subject, drawing from this experience.
“As people age, they become much more susceptible to the negative effects of heat because their bodies naturally cannot handle as much stress. This presents a very real problem for elderly people during the hotter months of the year because that is when the risk of developing heat stress is much greater.”
He goes on to explain how heat stress can be prevented in the elderly and how caring professionals can help with this.
“The prevention for heat stress usually requires plain common sense. If it is too hot outside, aged care workers keep their clients inside and away from direct sunlight. By staying indoors, they have the option to use the air conditioning and fans to keep the room cool. If this isn’t possible, residents can always go to an indoor public facility with air conditioning, such as a shopping centre.”
Usher then explains that proper hydration is the most important factor in managing heat stress.
“Staying hydrated is the most fundamental thing for beating heat stress. Care workers need to make sure that elderly people have plenty of water to drink. Losing water through sweat is what causes dehydration, therefore, fluid replacement is key.”
He concludes with what to do if heat stress still occurs.
“Even with preventive measures, heat stress can still occur. If it does, make sure to cool down the person as quickly as possible with a cool towel and a cold glass of water. A good aged care worker will know how to handle the situation and all the care providers at our communities are trained well.”
Tall Trees provides a unique approach in aged care—different from the average nursing homes in Brisbane, Logan and other areas. They accommodate elderly people of all needs and from all walks of life. To learn more about them and the support they offer, call them on 07 3442 9378 or visit their website: http://talltrees.net.au/.
Heat stress, also known as hyperthermia, is the primary culprit of summer weather problems and is caused by prolonged exposure to the heat of the sun or staying in a very warm environment. Marked by dizziness, nausea and most notably, dehydration, heat stress is more common in the elderly and can be very dangerous.
Since their bodies are naturally weaker than the average younger person, heat stress is more likely to escalate into heat stroke or react with medications that they may be taking. Therefore, as people age, they need to take better care during the hot months and their caretakers must help with this.
Phil Usher, founder and owner of Tall Trees, a series of communities dedicated to providing aged care in the home, has much experience in the field and knows the risks of heat stress in the elderly. He provides his insight on the subject, drawing from this experience.
“As people age, they become much more susceptible to the negative effects of heat because their bodies naturally cannot handle as much stress. This presents a very real problem for elderly people during the hotter months of the year because that is when the risk of developing heat stress is much greater.”
He goes on to explain how heat stress can be prevented in the elderly and how caring professionals can help with this.
“The prevention for heat stress usually requires plain common sense. If it is too hot outside, aged care workers keep their clients inside and away from direct sunlight. By staying indoors, they have the option to use the air conditioning and fans to keep the room cool. If this isn’t possible, residents can always go to an indoor public facility with air conditioning, such as a shopping centre.”
Usher then explains that proper hydration is the most important factor in managing heat stress.
“Staying hydrated is the most fundamental thing for beating heat stress. Care workers need to make sure that elderly people have plenty of water to drink. Losing water through sweat is what causes dehydration, therefore, fluid replacement is key.”
He concludes with what to do if heat stress still occurs.
“Even with preventive measures, heat stress can still occur. If it does, make sure to cool down the person as quickly as possible with a cool towel and a cold glass of water. A good aged care worker will know how to handle the situation and all the care providers at our communities are trained well.”
Tall Trees provides a unique approach in aged care—different from the average nursing homes in Brisbane, Logan and other areas. They accommodate elderly people of all needs and from all walks of life. To learn more about them and the support they offer, call them on 07 3442 9378 or visit their website: http://talltrees.net.au/.