A heat wave can become dangerous long before someone feels seriously ill, and that is particularly important for older adults to understand. People 65 and older do not adjust as well as younger people to sudden temperature changes, while chronic conditions and certain medications can further interfere with the body’s response to heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The tricky part is that preventing heat illness may require changing normal behavior before someone actually feels overheated. That means familiar routines that seem harmless, such as watering the garden in the afternoon, skipping a glass of water, or sitting in a hot house because “it doesn’t feel that bad,” can become surprisingly risky. Here is what you need to know about heat-wave safety for older adults and what regular habits can increase exposure.
