Hot Times Are Coming!
Dear Caregivers,
I love living in Florida, but I confess that this time of year always gives me a touch of anxiety about what’s to come: Heat.
Already the thermometer is popping up into the 90s, and the prospects for the summer are not encouraging. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac for 2025, "Summer is always hot, but this year is shaping up to be a doozy!" AccuWeather agrees, saying that this summer in Florida could feature “sweltering heat, severe weather, intense wildfires and the start of a dynamic hurricane season."
High heat puts even more of a burden on caregivers of loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Higher temperatures can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke, and studies have shown that the risk of death among people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias increases significantly during periods of high heat. Dehydration can also impact the efficacy of medications your loved one takes.
Fortunately, the solutions that can keep you and your loved one safe in the heat are fairly simple: Stay someplace cool if you can, keep out of the sun, and drink lots of water.
I think it’s a worthwhile trade-off: The relatively balmy temperatures that make living in Florida during the winter so enjoyable becomes a challenge during the summer. But there are ways to cope with it: Here’s some guidance on staying safe during the hot summer months.
The Importance of Water:
Lack of water, called dehydration, can be quite dangerous and can lead to decreased blood volume, which lowers the amount of blood sent to the major organs of the body, especially the kidneys. Therefore it is especially important for an older adult to keep up his or her fluid intake. Here’s how to do it.
Beating the Heat!
As summer temperatures climb into the 90s, older people are in danger of conditions caused by extreme heat, such as dehydration and hyperthermia, which can lead to heat exhaustion and its most serious form, heat stroke. Here’s how to cope.
How to Stay Hydrated:
How much water should you drink? It’s important because many medical conditions and medications can impact water intake requirements. Here’s a guide.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”
— Russell Baker
