Prevent aging loved-ones from suffering heat-related illnesses

Early signs of dehydration can be difficult for family members and caregivers to notice in their aging loved ones. General symptoms include confusion, fatigue, decreased urination and warmth to the touch. These symptoms can be misidentified as other health issues, but dehydration and other heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke are particularly dangerous for older adults. According to the American Journal of Physiology, the body’s thermoregulation capacity, or ability to control body temperature, naturally decreases with age. Think of the thermoregulation system as the body’s internal heating and cooling system. Natural responses to warm temperatures, like sweating to cool the body, become less efficient over time. As the body becomes less capable of coolin