How To Keep Seniors Safe From Summer Heat?
Living Independently's QuietCare^® Technology Plays A Role

More people in the United States die from extreme heat every year than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined. Extreme heat can have devastating effects. For example, in 2003, over 35,000 lives were lost due to Europe's record heat wave, many of them senior citizens.

Heat waves contribute to the deaths of elderly people because their air conditioner has broken, or because they simply don't have a source of cool air circulated in their homes. Heat related illnesses could cause permanent disability or death. Following the proper precautionary measures, however, will help keep seniors out of harm's way.

"Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, people need to be aware that the risk of heatstroke among older people is over 10 times that of younger people," said Dr. Robert Roush, Director of the Texas Consortium of Geriatrics and a member of Living Independently's Medical Advisory Board.

Living Independently, makers of the QuietCare home health Security System, a passive monitoring system to help ensure senior safety, offers the following "Top Ten Tips" to keep seniors safe in the summer heat:

1. Drink plenty of liquids -- eight or more 8-ounce glasses per day and or fruit juices -- every day to stay hydrated. Encourage older people to drink frequently throughout the day by having bottled water visibly available and people/systems in place prompting them to drink.
2. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. These are diuretics and can cause dehydration.
3. Dress appropriately. Wear loose-fitting clothes in natural fabrics like cotton. These will breathe easier than synthetic fabrics such as polyester. Also dress in light colors that will reflect the sun and heat instead of darker colors that will attract them.
4. When outdoors, protect your skin from damage by wearing hats, sunglasses and a sunscreen of 30 SPF or more.
5. Stay indoors during extreme heat. Avoid the outdoors altogether during extremely hot days and/or during the hottest part of the day - the late afternoon. A room with air conditioning is best.
6. If you do not have air conditioning in your apartment, go somewhere that does. A movie theater, the mall, a friend or relative's home or a community senior center are all good options.
7. If you need to get out of the house and don't drive a car, call a taxi, a friend or a transportation service. Do NOT wait outside for the bus in extreme heat.
8. If you are absolutely unable to leave the house and do not have air conditioning, take a cool bath or shower to lower your body temperature on extremely hot days.
9. Temperatures inside the home should not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit for prolonged periods of time. Living independently's QuietCare system alerts caregivers if room temperature rises above safe levels.
10. Know the signs of heat stroke and take immediate action if you feel them coming on. Signs include flushed face, high body temperature, headache, nausea, rapid pulse, dizziness and confusion.

When it comes to heat awareness, the QuietCare System sends out a notice when the indoor temperature reaches above 84 degrees and a red alert when the temperature is above 92 degrees. QuietCare is one of the few if not the only commercially available system which can provide this service at the present time.

The QuietCare system learns certain behaviors and automatically alerts caregivers to potential problems. By noting changes in behavior, emergencies can be avoided, thus preventing debilitating and costly hospital visit and giving seniors the ability to live independently. The system utilizes unobtrusive, wireless sensors in the home and sophisticated software. The system also sends out signals if the temperatures reach unhealthy extremes.

Roush also notes that, "Extremes in temperature should be taken very seriously by the elderly and their caregivers. Aging can result in loss of sense of thirst and ability to regulate temperature; thus, extreme heat makes matters much worse for frail elders. In other words, they don't feel the extremes and may not know to follow practices to stay safe in the summer heat."

"Hot summer months can be worrisome for caretakers due to the added risk of heat exhaustion," added George Boyajian, Executive Vice president for Research & Development of Living Independently. "The QuietCare system is an effective tool for keeping seniors safe without being intrusive. QuietCare doesn't require that the elderly person wear anything or press a button, so it can summon help even when they can't. In turn, it provides enormous peace of mind for family members and caretakers. It gives the professional caretaker a powerful tool to keep an eye on their frail and at-risk clients who live alone on those very hot summer days when they could be more at risk than usual."

A recent case bears this out. According to Louise Taft, director of Telecare, at a home care and hospice agency, "In the case of our elderly patient Mr. Joseph B., QuietCare sent us an alert that his home was over 93 degrees, a danger point, and there was another QuietCare alert that there was very little activity in the house, suggesting that a serious problem might be developing.

"Each time I phoned him he said he was fine, but he sounded disoriented and was unaware of the elevated heat, which I could monitor on my computer screen thanks to QuietCare. We sent a nurse to check on him, who quickly sent him to the hospital, thus averting a crisis and quite possibly saving his life. Joseph was hydrated, his air conditioner problem was taken care of and he's safe and back at home."

Roush recommends that for many older people, especially those who live alone and the very frail or those with cognitive impairment, technology such as that offered by QuietCare, can make a tremendous difference in preventing serious illness and death.