Keeping Older Adults Safe During Extreme Heat at Home
A home health nurse arrives for a scheduled visit and notices that the house feels unusually warm. The curtains are closed, a small fan is running, and the patient explains that they have been avoiding the air conditioner because of the electric bill. Although they insist they feel fine, they appear more tired than usual and mention that they have barely had anything to drink. The nurse discovers that the air conditioner works, but the patient has been leaving it off for several days to save money. What began as an effort to control household expenses has created a potentially dangerous situation. Extreme heat is often associated with outdoor activities, but some of the most concerning exposures happen inside people's homes. Older adults who spend much of their time indoors may assume they are protected from dangerous temperatures, even when their living spaces retain heat throughout the day and night. Chronic medical conditions, certain medications, and age-related changes in tem...