Deadly Heat Threatens Seniors From Coast To Coast

This summer’s sweltering summer temperatures have caused several unnecessary deaths among senior citizens who didn’t take simple, sensible steps to protect themselves – like turning on the air conditioning. Even though heat warnings are being issued across much of the country, seniors often aren’t taking any action. This is why Senior Helpers, a leading local in-home senior care provider, started a new initiative called Senior Helpers’ Heat Watch to look out for local elderly people who are more at-risk and prone to problems stemming from this summer’s record breaking heat.

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“In the midst of one of the hottest summers ever on record for many parts of the country, we need to take additional steps to make sure our seniors are protected and that’s why we started Heat Watch,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. “Due to age, medical conditions and the prescription drugs these individuals often take, their bodies can’t regulate internal temperatures and cool down as effectively as younger adults. People can follow our Heat Watch guidelines and check in on their elderly loves ones on their own, or hire a caregiver to check in for them.” Some of This Summer’s Tragic Senior Citizen Heat-Related Deaths:

• June: 88 year old man died from heat-related causes in his Memphis apartment. He had air conditioning, but it wasn’t running.
• June: Three Maryland residents in the Baltimore area over the age of 65 died within days of each other from heat-related causes in their own homes. Two of the three had air conditioners that were not in use.
• July: 90 year old woman and 73 year old man each died of heart disease on consecutive days. Heat was officially listed as a contributing cause. Both had air condition in their homes, but neither was using it.
• July: Northern New Jersey senior citizen found dead in senior housing facility after the building’s air conditioning system stopped working.

Senior Helpers Heat Watch Guidelines

1. Visit Senior Loved Ones Daily – drop by, even if it’s just for an hour to physically check up on them and make sure all is well 2. Turn on the Air Condition for Them – air conditioning is the number one protection senior citizens have from heat-related dangers, but seniors often won’t turn on the air, sometimes to save on power bills. 3. Schedule Prescription Medications in the Morning or at Night – many common prescription meds, including many heart medicines specifically, affect the body’s ability to cool itself and sweat naturally. If possible, take these meds during the cooler parts of the day. 4. Limit the Coffee – coffee, and other beverages with a lot of caffeine, are natural diuretics and cause the body to lose more water than they contribute. 5. Keep a Damp, Cool Cloth Nearby – at the first sign of any uncharacteristic nausea or dizziness, apply the cloth directly to the bodies key “Pulse Points,” most notably the armpits and neck. Applying a cloth to these key spots cools the body more quickly and efficiently.

Frightening Study Shows Seniors Ignore Heat Warnings

A recent study out of Kent State University found that nearly 90 percent of respondents over age 65 were aware that heat warnings had been issued in their area, but less than half of those people did anything about it. The survey found that most seniors thought the messages were targeted toward “older Americans,” a group to which they did not think they belonged. “Seniors often don’t realize they’re at risk, that’s why we have to take special precautions and look out for them,” says Ross. “Heat-related health issues are almost always avoidable – you just have to make sure some simple safeguards are in place to prevent these dangers from becoming real problems.” We can provide interviews/photo/video opportunities with local senior care experts working with area families for a local story on how area seniors are fighting to beat the heat. Media Contacts: Jon Weiner, jweiner@seniorhelpers.com, Sue Yannello, syannello@seniorhelpers.com,

About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers connects professional caregivers with seniors who wish to live at home as opposed to a nursing or assisted living facility. The company has 300 franchises in 42 states and one in Canada offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Senior Helpers strives to be the leading companion and personal care provider that offers dependable, consistent and affordable home care.

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