Why heat hits harder in later life
The body regulates temperature less efficiently with age, thirst is blunted, and several common medications affect how much fluid is retained or lost.
Add a top-floor flat, closed curtains left open all morning, and a habit of wearing the same cardigan year round, and the room temperature climbs without anyone noticing.
The daily rhythm during a hot spell
- Close curtains and windows on the sunny side by mid-morning; open up again in the evening.
- A drink every couple of hours, prompted rather than waited for.
- Cool foods: fruit, yoghurt, salad, ice lollies. Cooking heats the room.
- A cool flannel on the neck and wrists, or a cool shower before bed.
- Stay out of direct sun between 11am and 3pm and shift any walk to early morning.
The signs of heat exhaustion
Tiredness, dizziness, headache, cramps, feeling sick, clammy skin, a fast pulse. Cool them down and get fluids in, and they should improve within half an hour.
If they do not improve, or if they are confused, hot to touch and no longer sweating, that is heatstroke. Call 999.
Keeping the prompts going
During a heatwave you can add extra drink reminders for a few days and remove them afterwards. It takes a minute and it removes the need to ring five times a day.
The wider picture
6 to 8 glasses
of fluid a day is the NHS guide for adults, and older adults often feel thirst less keenly.
Source: NHS
3.9 million
people aged 65 and over in the UK live alone, around a third of that age group.
Source: Office for National Statistics