All of us are sensitive to changes in the weather. However as we get older our bodies become less able to respond effectively to cold and hot weather extremes. Family members and caregivers of someone living with dementia may be worried that the person they care for is unable to recognize and adjust to changes in the temperature both outside and inside their home environment. There can be a number of risks associated with temperature changes within the home, particularly those associated with extreme heat in summer and cold snaps in winter. Even mildly cool homes can trigger hypothermia in some individuals while making others vulnerable to illness. During a heat wave a person with dementia can quickly become dehydrated and over heated.
Warning Signs
Indicators that temperature levels in the home may not be adequate for the person with dementia are:
- If the person is hot and at risk of overheating, the warning signs to look for are: red hot dry skin (lack of perspiration), confusion, or change in mental state or consciousness;
- If the person is cold and at risk of hypothermia they may show signs of confusion or change in their mental state, slurred speech, shallow breathing, excessive shivering or no shivering, stiffness in the arms or legs, slower reactions.
Monitoring a person with dementia’s temperature with a mercury thermometer is not recommended. Thermometers that are designed to be placed in the ear, digital thermometers and temperature strips are a simpler and safer alternative.