Record Temperatures – Stay Hydrated & Keep Cool!
Just recently we have had numerous “amber” weather warnings here in the North West. In London and the South East the warnings have been higher at “red”! I’m 54 years old and thinking back to the 1970s, 80s and 90s I cannot recall having these type of heat warnings. Perhaps a “warning system” was not in place in these decades, maybe we have become more responsive to health threats, or perhaps due to global warming we now need more accurate daily information. Weather records keep being broken and this year we have seen temperature records broken for June.
It is clear this type of weather is going to be with us more frequently, and it may even get hotter in the future so it is vital everyone stays hydrated and keeps cool. I am younger than many of our customers (who are often in their 80s and my parents’ age) and reasonably physically fit yet when I spent a short time in the mid-day June heat I started to feel weak! These problems are usually much worse for older people with health conditions which make it more difficult to cool down. With heart and respiratory conditions hot weather can become life threatening.
Independent Living and our carers in the community are urging people to drink water/tea regularly even if this means having to get up and go to the toilet more frequently. Dehydration can creep up on anyone, even healthy people and those who do not have dementia. It is also wise to keep the curtains closed in the daytime to keep out the sunlight, and perhaps open the windows at night when it cools down. Staying downstairs for long periods of time can be helpful, it is noticeable how when you go upstairs it can be much hotter.
If you have neighbours, family or carers coming round ask them to get you drinks, and leave drinks out for the day or in the fridge. Part of a carer’s role is to monitor medication, eating and hydration. Our carers feedback any concerns to family/next of kin.
If as a result of the hot spells you do feel that support at home might be helpful why not give Lilian or Amanda a call in office hours 01257 696 050
