Aberdeen Health and Community Services

Aberdeen Health and Community Services, a charitable organization, is a leader in providing quality community based health and support services and wellness strategies which assure clients, caregivers and customers high standards of service delivery.

Safety Tips for Seniors:

Surviving Summer Heat

Seniors are more prone to heat-related health problems than anyone else. Nearly all of a internal organs function with less efficiency as we age, especially those that help the body deal with heat.

Also, many seniors are on combinations of medications that further slow the body’s ability to deal with heat. Here are some general guidelines to provide basic information about maintaining well being when the weather is hot.

1. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER – don’t wait until you’re thirsty. You lose a lot of water through perspiration. Carry a water bottle with you if you are able.

2. AVOID ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE – they cause your body to lose more water.

3. STAY IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA – circulation of air helps you keep cool. Open a window or turn on a fan or air conditioner.

4. DRESS “COOL” - Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, sunscreen, and a broad-brimmed hat.

5. AVOID UNNECESSARY ACTIVITY - especially in a hot environment.

6. KNOW YOUR MEDICATION – the heat may affect your reaction to certain medications.

7. HAVE A FRIEND CHECK UP ON YOU – plan to have a friend check on you at different times of the day when the temperature is extremely high.

8. PLAN AHEAD – try to plan your outside activities during the coolest part of the day, early in the morning or later in the evening.

9. TAKE YOUR TIME – leave plenty of extra time so you don’t have to run around in a hurry.

10. EAT LIGHT MEALS.

Created by: Beth Wagner, Nutrition Intern at the San Francisco Commission on the Aging

Ontario’s population aged 65 and over is projected to more than double from 1.8 million, or 13.7 per cent of the population in 2009 to 4.1 million, or 23.2 per cent, in 2036. The growth in seniors’ share of the population will accelerate after 2011 as baby boomers begin to turn age 65. (info from www.culture.gov.on.ca)