Climate Change: Older Adults and Heat

Article 1 of our Empowering Aging in Colorado Older Adults Blog Series by Laura Kinder, Spark Senior Companion Program Director

We all need to take heat seriously, as it is the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Climate change drives more frequent, more intense, and longer heat waves. It raises nighttime lows, preventing body temperatures from resetting for the next day. One population that is most vulnerable to heat is our 65+ older adults.

Heat related deaths have increased 85% in this population between 2000 and 2022! More than 80% of the estimated 12,000 people in the United States who die of heat-related causes annually are over the age of 60. As the Earth gets hotter and the population becomes older, heat-related deaths among older adults are expected to grow.

What makes older adults more vulnerable to heat? There are unique physical and medical reasons why older adults are more vulnerable to heat:

• Sweat glands are less efficient
• Blood circulatory changes
• Decline in muscle mass
• Medical illnesses can exacerbate vulnerability
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Cardio-vascular disease
  • Pulmonary diseases (COPD)
  • Renal disease
  • Dementia
  • Other cognitive impairments
  • Sensory impairments
• Medications can reduce the body’s cooling ability

There are also social and economic vulnerabilities that older adults experience:

• Isolation; limited supports/living alone
• Loneliness
• Fixed and limited income
• Housing quality
• Neighborhood quality – heat island
• Less use of technology
• Other social determinants of health; limited or no access to health care

Extreme Heat Events

What is an extreme heat event? It occurs when the maximum daytime temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for at least two days, which typically happens several times each summer in Colorado. When daytime temperatures remain at high levels, it can be dangerous for many residents, especially those most vulnerable.

During a heat emergency, there is a lot at stake. Here is what you need to know to stay safe.

High Risk People

Talk to your friends and family about what you plan to do to stay healthy when the hottest days of summer arrive.

There are specific groups the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified as more vulnerable to extreme heat, which include:

• Adults aged 65 and older
• Outdoor workers
• Households without air conditioning
• Infants and children
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions
• Athletes

In addition, these individuals have been identified as vulnerable populations who are at risk:

• Persons who are unhoused
• Individuals who live in manufactured housing
• Everyone – when temperatures rise above 105 degrees Fahrenheit

Higher-than-normal temperatures in the spring and fall can be just as concerning as 100-degree heat in the summer. Follow the instructions below to reduce the impact of heat-related illness.

Heat Illness: Signs & Symptoms

If you notice the symptoms below, please seek medical attention.

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness
• Muscle Cramping
• Fainting (passing out)
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Pale, cold and clammy skin
• Very high body temperature (103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
• Fast or rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Confusion

Signs of Heat Stroke

A heat stroke requires immediate attention and can cause permanent disability or death unless it is treated immediately.

Signs include:

• Very high body temperature (103 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Skin appears hot to the touch or is red.
• Fast, strong pulse.
• Nausea, confusion or fainting.

What to do:

• Call 911. Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
• Immediately move the person to a cooler place.
• Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath.
• Do not give the person anything to drink if they are unconscious or unresponsive to your voice or touch
• If the person is conscious and alert enough to swallow, you can give them cool water or other nonalcoholic beverages without caffeine. You can also give them a sports drink that contains electrolytes.

Prevent Heat-Related Illness

Air conditioning is the most effective way to stay safe during a heat emergency. Fans are not effective at keeping vulnerable populations safe.

In addition, you can:

• Draw blinds in sunny windows.
• Avoid using your oven during the day as it can make your home hotter.
• Dress in loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing.
• Take a cool shower or a bath.
• Go to see movies, or to the malls, libraries, and museums where they are safe places to stay cool.
• Drink liquids.
• Have water on hand at all times.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugar (these can be dehydrating).
• Drink before you get thirsty.

Safety Outdoors

• Bring water and hydrate regularly.
• Limit your time in the sun.
• Even with windows rolled down in a parked car, it is unsafe to leave children, pets, or people with mobility issues in a vehicle during extreme heat.
• Rest often and pace yourself.
• Avoid activities that require a lot of effort, energy, or carry a higher risk of injury.
• Injuries can happen more often during heat emergencies when it’s hard to think clearly.
• Shift outdoor activities and exercise to cooler times in the morning or evening.
• Wear sunscreen with 30 SPF or above to avoid sunburns.
• Wear shoes and avoid touching metal surfaces outdoors.
• Pavement and metal surfaces can cause severe burns. Avoid older playground equipment, especially if made from metal.
• Walking your companion animal on surfaces that are light in color, dirt and grass. Avoid blacktops. Bring water even for short trips outside with your pet.
• Watch carefully for the symptoms of heat-related illness (see above).

It’s important to note that when temperatures reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit or above, all individuals are at risk of heat-related illness.

Keep Your Companion Animal Safe

Heat strokes can also happen for dogs and cats. It happens when your animal’s body temperature rises above the normal range of 100 – 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Dogs and cats have fewer sweat glands and therefore can’t cool off by sweating like humans.

Know the heatstroke signs:

• Seizures
• Sudden collapse
• Vomiting
• Excessive panting and drooling
• Incoordination or stumbling
• Difficulty breathing

If you’re concerned your companion animal may have heat stroke:

• Take steps to cool your animal down gradually; don’t dunk animals in water.
• Move the animal to shade or a cooler air-conditioned area.
• Even if your companion animal responds to cooling treatments, take it to see an emergency veterinarian for a check-up to ensure it hasn’t suffered irreversible damage.

In general:

• Never leave your companion animal outside without supervision on hot days.
• Take your dog on walks in the morning before temperatures reach dangerous levels. Avoid excessive exercise when it’s hot outside.
• Don’t leave your animal alone in a parked car. Temperatures can quickly build to deadly levels.
• Be mindful of dark pavement that can burn your pet’s feet. If you can’t hold your hand on the pavement for 10 seconds, then it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.

Interested in supporting Empowering Aging in Colorado? Consider donating to Spark’s senior programs! Make YOUR impact, make your gift today.

References:

Extreme Heat Emergencies and Health from Boulder County Website

Robin Cooper, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Co-Founder and President, University of California, San Francisco, Climate Psychiatry Alliance “Climate Change and Mental Health: A Primer Unique Impacts on Aging Population – The Neglected Generation.” 05/02/2024

Stephanie Dutchen, “The Effects of Heat on Older Adults” Harvard Medicine. Autumn 2021