Cold Weather Can Spell Trouble for Seniors

Philadelphia, PA, January 15, 2004 – As winter’s chill sets in, it’s a good time to consider how cold weather can affect us, particularly the older adult population.

The Administration on Aging (AoA) reports that each year, nearly 700 people die of hypothermia – many of them older adults. Sadly, many of these deaths could be prevented.

Richard Grant, MD, Chairman, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, notes that hypothermia – when the core body temperature drops below 96 degrees Fahrenheit – is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. “Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced through muscle contractions, the body’s metabolism and even shivering,” reports Dr. Grant. “If this heat loss is not reversed, the person can quickly lose consciousness and die.”

According to the AoA, people living in poorly heated or insulated homes and those on low, fixed incomes are especially at risk. People of limited means may keep the heat turned down or off in order to lower their costs.

Social factors, too, put seniors at risk for hypothermia, reports Dr. Grant. “Often, seniors living alone become very isolated,” he says. “With no one checking up on them, a dangerous situation can occur very easily.”

Seniors’ physical health can also leave them vulnerable. “Seniors who are physically frail are at greater risk of cold weather emergencies,” says Dr. Grant. “They also have greater difficulty recovering from even mild hypothermia.”

Medical conditions that can increase the risk of hypothermia include hypothyroidism, diseases that interfere with blood flow such as diabetes, memory disorders, stroke or dementia. “Conditions that make it difficult for people to move such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease may mean someone doesn’t get up to adjust the thermostat or put on warmer clothes,” says Dr. Grant.

Dr. Grant recommends keeping hypothermia’s symptoms in mind this winter. Early symptoms include: ·

• Severe shivering
• Cold, pale or blue-gray skin
• Lack of interest or concern (apathy)
• Poor judgment
• Unsteadiness in walking or balancing
• Slurred speech
• Numb hands or difficulty performing tasks

To help keep the symptoms straight, remember the four “umbles”: stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles. These words describe how a person’s mental alertness and physical coordination worsen, which can be the tip-off that hypothermia is setting in.

“With a few precautions, hypothermia can be prevented,” says Dr. Grant. To make sure the seniors in your life don’t fall victim to it, make sure the heat in elderly neighbors’ and relatives’ homes is being used appropriately. If you have concerns that they’ll turn it down as soon as you leave, there are a few things you can do: Pay their heating bill in advance if you are financially able, and tell the senior that you have done so. This way, he or she will be less likely to turn the heat down. If you can’t afford this expense, look into grants and public assistance that the senior may be entitled to. (Call PECO at 1-800-34-HELP-4 or PGW at 215-684-6100.)

Your presence in a senior’s life may be enough to prevent death by hypothermia. “Check up on the seniors in your life often and make sure they are dressed properly,” says Dr. Grant. “It’s the best way to prevent a senseless tragedy.”

Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, a member of the Jefferson Health System, provides healthcare services through Albert Einstein Medical Center, Germantown Community Health Services, Willow Terrace (a nursing home), MossRehab at Tabor Road, MossRehab at Elkins Park, Willowcrest (a center for subacute care), Belmont Behavioral Health and a number of outpatient and satellite locations. Einstein also operates a primary care network, Einstein Neighborhood Healthcare. For more information, visit www.einstein.edu or call 1-800-EINSTEIN.

Publish date: January 15, 2004