For most people a long hot spell is just uncomfortable. Heat waves can be more serious for elderly people. Older adults perspire less than younger people. Without perspiration body temperatures rise quickly, posing a threat to the older person's comfort and health. Chronic diseases -- diabetes, high blood pressure or overweight -- interfere with the body's normal cooling processes. Certain medications like diuretics ("water pills"), tranquilizers, heart or blood pressure drugs reduce the amount of perspiration -- the body's natural coolant -- produces.
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Gardening can be a wonderful activity for older adults with Alzheimer's or other memory disorders and their families. Whether you and your parent have earned green thumbs after years of tilling the soil or are looking for a pleasant new activity you can enjoy together, nothing quite beats working in the garden.
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Among elders, more than half have high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension leads to the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, dementia, etc. Of equal danger, low blood pressure (hypotension) can result in dizziness, fainting and increased loss of balance. About 10%-20% of elders’ experience hypotension.
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