TIP OF THE WEEK
Heat Stress in the Elderly: Keeping Hydrated
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use.
Elderly people (that is, people aged 65 years and older) are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:
- Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
- They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that upsets normal body responses to heat.
- They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.
PREVENTING HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS
The best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips offered by the CDC:
- Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
- If a resident is on a fluid restriction or is taking water pills, ask the primary care physician (PCP) how much the resident should drink when the weather is hot.
- Avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause cramps.
- Rest.
- Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
- If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment.
- If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or public library to cool off.
- Wear lightweight clothing.
- If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.
- Do not engage in strenuous activities.
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS
This is an important element for preventing heat stroke and it bears repeating. Everyone should increase their fluid intake in hot weather, regardless of their activity level. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour – whether you feel thirsty or not. (Again, refer to the PCP on this if the resident is on fluid restriction or is taking water pills.) Fluids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar can actually cause your body to lose more fluid and very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps, so avoid these when it is hot houtside.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP PROTECT ELDERLY RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS
If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, you can help them protect themselves from heat-related stress:
- Visit older adults at least twice a day and watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.
- Make sure older adults have access to an electric fan whenever possible.
RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
Dehydration Risk Appraisal Checklist
The information on this form may be collected from direct observation, from chart review, or from MDS information that has been collected. Many of the items on this checklist have MDS identifiers next to them reflecting that information from MDS can be used to complete this checklist. The total number of risk factors should be totaled. The higher the number of risk factors checked, the higher the risk for hydration problems.
(Source: Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto, Created 10/2007.)
IN THE NEWS
FDA ALERT ASKS PROVIDERS TO CHECK DRUG/DEVICE STORAGES FOR RECALLED HEPARIN
May 9, 2008 -- FDA -- In a recent statement, the Food and Drug Administration requested that health professionals and facilities review and examine all drug/device storage areas to ensure that all recalled Baxter International Healthcare Corporation heparin products have been removed and are no longer available for patient use. Read more >>
STUDY FINDS LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF PATIENTS CHECKED FOR BLOOD PRESSURE
May 12, 2008 -- HealthDay -- Published in Hypertension, a study out of Stanford University School of Medicine analyzed data from a federal 2003-04 survey of services performed in offices of private U.S. physicians. It noted such details as whether the blood pressure cuff was brought out, whether appropriate medications were prescribed, and whether treatment achieved its goal.
Patients already diagnosed with hypertension were more likely to have their blood pressure checked (93%) but many (39%) were not at the recommended blood pressure levels.
Read more >>
May 13, 2008 -- HealthDay -- In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that 75 percent of whites and 73 percent of blacks saw an oncologist after being diagnosed with rectal cancer, but only 54 percent of blacks received chemotherapy, compared with 70 percent of whites. In addition, rates of referral to a radiation oncologist were similar, but only 74 percent of blacks received radiation therapy, compared with 83 percent of whites. Read more >>
May 13, 2008 -- Reuters Health -- In a study of more than 1,100 Dutch adults with type two diabetes, researchers found that those who reported physical limitations that impaired their quality of life were more likely to die over the next six years. Quality of life was linked to death risk, independently of a range of well-known factors in diabetic adults' health -- including blood sugar control, weight, blood pressure and kidney function. Read more >>
INDUSTRY EVENTS
Eden International Conference, Columbus, Ohio –- June 3-6, 2008
The fourth international conference will be held in Columbus this year. This is an excellent opportunity to network with industry leaders from all over the world -- to hear their stories and to share your own.
Health Policy Institute of Ohio: Regional Meetings on the Ohio Family Violence Prevention Project
Consistent Assignment – The Practice and the Experience
June 3, 2008, 2:00 to 3:30 PM. Register now. (registration closes May 29, 2008)
Dial in to this teleconference hosted by the Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Home Campaign to learn what consistent assignment really is, why it works, and how to do it! We’ll also hear from several nursing homes that have done it and been successful at it.
Handouts will be available after May 29, 2008 on www.nhqualitycampaign.org.
Medicare Learning Network: Learning resources and products for the healthcare professional.
Alzheimer’s Association Training Events
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Courses
Cuyahoga Community College Spring ’08 Continuing Education Schedule for Gerontology Professionals
Ohio Department of Health, Technical Assistance Program – New Programs
Ohio Health Care Association Events
An archive of The Nursing Home Weekly Update is available on our Web site. Click here >>
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