Heating and Cooling for Your Loved Ones
A lot of information is available about how to best heat, cool, insulate, and filter your home. But it’s also important to be aware of the harm that can be done to the most vulnerable of us when something goes wrong with climate control systems. Substantial dangers arise for the elderly when the temperature of their homes is neglected.
The risks
Aging brings a lot of challenges to the body’s ability to adapt to changes in temperature. As we get older, it becomes harder to detect changes in the temperature around us. At the same time, our ability to maintain a steady body temperature slows down. This means that when the air gets hotter, our body’s ability to compensate by shedding our internal heat gets slower and less effective.
As if that wasn’t enough, our blood circulation becomes less efficient; our sweat glands become less productive; and our organs become more vulnerable to the effects of temperature change. Additionally, many medications commonly used by the elderly, such as certain prescriptions for heart disease and blood pressure, inhibit our ability to regulate our internal temperature.
What does all of this add up to? It means that we need to take a lot of care to ensure that our loved ones are getting a stable climate in their homes. EPA statistics show that the elderly are several times more likely to succumb to heat-related illnesses.
Other dangers
Older people are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses; this means it’s important to keep a regular maintenance schedule for your air filters. Unclean air leads to a greater likelihood of allergic reactions and respiratory infections, which can be very harmful to our elderly loved ones. And keep your insulation in good repair; that will let the hot and cold air stay where it belongs, and reduce your heating and cooling costs.
It’s also important that your loved ones’ medications stay within appropriate temperatures; if they get too hot, they can become less effective. Be sure that their medications are stored in a location that is accessible, secure, and climate-controlled.
What can you do?
It’s more important than ever to make sure that maintenance of your climate control systems is kept up to date. Preventative measures count! But beyond that, there is no substitute for communication. Check on your loved ones regularly. Make sure they’re feeling comfortable. Make sure they have fans available in the summer, and space heaters in the winter.
