Keeping Loved Ones with Dementia Safe This Summer and Important Communication Tips

In today’s episode, Lisa shares valuable tips on how we can keep our loved ones as safe as possible amidst the intense heat waves that we are feeling across the country this summer.  She discusses why older adults, particularly those who live with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are at a much higher risk during hot weather than younger people. You will learn vital information about how to take protective measures from the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, along with what symptoms to look for if someone is experiencing excessive heat exposure as well as the appropriate responses according to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Additionally, Lisa shares key tips offered by Cindy Keehn and Leslie Fuller on how to better communicate with our loved ones if they are living with dementia – what they would like you to know.

You don’t want to miss this one!  

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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Episode Transcript

Lisa Skinner (00:00):
Hi everybody. Welcome back for another brand
new episode of the truth, liesand Alzheimer's show. I'm Lisa
Skinner, your host, and I wasthinking about this, and can't
believe that we are alreadyhalfway through this summer. So

(00:22):
I thought, What a perfect timeand place to get this topic in.
So today I'm going to be talkingabout how you can ensure your
loved ones with Alzheimer'sdisease or dementia are having a
safe summer, especially sinceevery time we turn the news on,

(00:47):
we're hearing about theseongoing and continuous heat
waves all over the country. Soit can be potentially very
dangerous for the elderlypopulation, and especially if
they are living with Alzheimer'sdisease and dementia. Now,

(01:08):
throughout the many years that Iworked in memory care
communities, my favorite time ofthe year was summertime. The
days were not only longer, butthe weather was warm and the
residents could enjoy a varietyof gratifying activities
outdoors. I used to lovewatching the caregivers help

(01:31):
helping the residents plantflowers and tend to the
vegetables that they had plantedin the garden boxes that were
built for them in our courtyard,there was also an outdoor aviary
where they seemed to enjoywatching the birds playing and
singing in perfect harmony withone another. Some of the

(01:54):
residents would hum along withthe birds. It was so cute. Now
one could tell that theseactivities were creating
invaluable moments of joy andpurpose for them, the sights,
the sounds and the smells of theoutdoors can offer a person with
Alzheimer's disease manyopportunities for pleasurable

(02:17):
stimulation and triggerwonderful memories from their
past. Family members would oftentake their loved ones out during
the warmer summer months forspecial outings such as family
picnics or to the local farmersmarket. And although summertime

(02:38):
presented many exclusive eventsthat could not be done in the
colder weather. It did not comewithout its own set of dangers.
When people suffer from evenmoderate Alzheimer's disease and
related dementia, theircognitive abilities continue to
decline, sadly, but now thedamage to the brain has spread

(03:03):
to areas that control language,reasoning, sensory processing
and conscious thought, making itnearly impossible for them to
verbalize if they are beingimpacted by the heat that stands
to reason, right? Therefore,it's vital for us as caregivers

(03:27):
and as family members to takeextra precautions during the hot
summer months, not to endangerthe residents from exposure to
the heat. And do you know thatolder adults, and particularly
individuals who do suffer fromAlzheimer's disease and
dementia, are definitely at amuch higher risk during hot

(03:53):
weather than younger people are.As we age, we lose the ability
to control our bodytemperatures. Did you know that?
It's a fact our bodies also havea decreased ability to perspire
as we get older, suddentemperature changes are not easy

(04:16):
to adjust to for older adults,leaving them vulnerable for
dehydration, heat relatedillnesses, heat stroke and, of
course, sunburn. Now, otherreasons why seniors are more
prone to heat stress than thegeneral population, and this is
according to the Centers forDisease Control, are the just

(04:40):
this for the sheer fact that alot of them live with chronic
medical conditions, includingcognitive impairment, which can
increase the risk of heatrelated illnesses, as well as
medications they may be takingthat can interfere with the
body's ability to regulate. Eat.So to ensure that people with

(05:03):
Alzheimer's disease and relateddementia can still enjoy outdoor
activities and always staycomfortable and safe during the
summer heat, there are manyprotective measures that can be
put in place, so I'm going toshare these with you. Number
one, make sure to keep themhydrated by offering plenty of

(05:27):
fluids and cool foods, stayinghydrated can keep body
temperatures down and preventdehydration. Drink plenty of
water, at least eight glassesper day, you can infuse the
water with fruit, if your lovedone prefers flavor, and this is

(05:48):
an important point to realizeyou want to avoid soda, caffeine
and alcohol. People withdementia often don't know that
they're thirsty. It's notregistering to them that they
are thirsty, so if they show nointerest in drinking fluids, you

(06:09):
can try offering them popsicles,fruit or smoothies. Instead, to
keep cool, it doesn'tnecessarily have to be water.
You want to keep them as cool aspossible. The hottest time in
the day is typically between11am through 3pm so in order to

(06:33):
minimize their risk of heatexposure, avoid outings during
these peak Sun Times and opt tostay in a cooler air conditioned
environment. This can helpprevent heat stress and heat
stroke, as well as preventsunburn and keep your loved one
from becoming agitated andaggressive due to being

(06:56):
miserably hot and extremelyuncomfortable. Make sure your
loved one and the person you'recaring for is dressed in
lightweight, light colored,loose fitting clothing in
natural fibers such as cotton.Have them wear hats, sunglasses

(07:19):
and carry lightweight umbrellasto keep them from the direct
sun. Try to schedule yourdoctor's appointments during the
early morning hours and limitthe amount of time they spend
outside. Provide them with coolshowers or sponge baths. Provide
them with cooling fans that areeasy to carry and are available

(07:46):
to take along and go for walksduring the early morning hours
of the day. Also, it'simperative that you pay close
attention to any of thefollowing warning signs that
your loved one might be indistress. So here's what to look

(08:10):
for that might signal that theyare experiencing heat
exhaustion, that they feel faintor dizzy. They are sweating
excessively. They are cool,pale, and have clammy skin. They

(08:31):
may feel sick to their stomachor act even start vomiting. They
have a rapid and weak pulse, and
even if they can't tell you thatthey're experiencing muscle
cramps, perhaps their bodylanguage will be a tell that

(08:51):
they are experiencing some painin their legs. So what you want
to do immediately, get to acooler, air conditioned place,
drink water if they're fullyconscious, and have them take a
cool shower or use coldcompresses to bring that body
temperature heat down. Now hereare some signs to look for if

(09:16):
they are experiencing an actualheat stroke, they you might not
know this because they may notbe able to actually communicate
it to you, but they areexperiencing a throbbing
headache. They seem moreconfused and with a heat stroke,

(09:38):
there's no sweating, so payattention that body language and
change in their behavior. Again,I can't emphasize this enough,
their behaviors are their way oftelling you that something is
bothering them. So if you noticea change in behavior, there's

(09:59):
some. Thing going on. Alsoindications of a heat stroke are
that their body temperaturerises to above 103 degrees, and
their skin is red hot and dry.With heat stroke, they can also
be experiencing nausea and orvomiting, just like with the

(10:24):
exhaustion. And contrary to theheat exhaustion, where I
mentioned that they would bedisplaying a rapid weak pulse
with their having a heat stroke,it's a rapid strong pulse they
may actually lose consciousness.So what do you want to do if you

(10:46):
notice the symptoms, especiallyheat stroke, call 911, move that
person to a cooler place, coolthem down using cool cloth or a
bath, and don't give themanything to drink if you suspect

(11:06):
they're having a heat strokeduring extremely hot and humid
weather. Our body's ability tocool itself is challenged when
the body heats too rapidly tocool itself properly, or when
too much fluid or salt is lostthrough dehydration or sweating,

(11:28):
our body temperature rises, andyou or someone you care about
may experience a heat relatedillness like the ones I just
described to you, heatexhaustion, heat stroke, it's
important that you recognize thesymptoms of excessive heat

(11:48):
exposure and the appropriateresponses the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,the CDC does provide a list of
warning signs and symptoms ofheat illness and recommended
first aid steps. So here aresome of the other symptoms and

(12:09):
steps. So heat cramps. Heatcramps may be the first sign of
heat related illness and maylead to heat exhaustion or
stroke. The symptoms to watchfor painful muscle cramps and
spasms, usually in their legs,but it could be in their abdomen

(12:33):
and they might be sweating veryheavily. For first aid, you
could apply firm pressure on thecramping muscle or gently
massage to relieve the spasm.Give sips of water unless the
person complains of nausea, thenstop giving the water. Seek

(12:55):
immediate medical attention ifcramps last longer than one hour
again, these instructions areaccording to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,and it's on their website, the
CDC website, now the symptoms tolook for, once Again, for heat

(13:16):
exhaustion, is heavy sweating,weakness or tiredness, cool,
pale, clammy skin, a fast, weakpulse, muscle cramps, dizziness,
nausea or vomiting, headache,fainting, first aid, it's

(13:40):
recommended by the CDC that youmove that person to a cooler
environment, preferably a wellair conditioned room, and you
want to loosen their clothingthen apply cool wet claws, or
have your person Sit in a coolbath, offer them sips of water,

(14:03):
but once again, if person vomitsmore than once, you want to seek
immediate medical attention. Ifthey vomit symptoms worsen or
last longer than one hour, andthen a few more symptoms that
weren't mentioned before forheat stroke include a throbbing

(14:27):
headache, confusion, nausea,dizziness, body temperature
above 103 degrees Fahrenheit,hot, red, dry or damp skin,
rapid and strong pulse, they canfaint or lose, actually lose
their consciousness. Soaccording to the CDC, what you

(14:51):
want to do is immediately call911, or get the victim to a
hospital. Immediately. Heatstroke is an extremely severe
medical emergency. Delay can befatal. Move the person to a

(15:14):
cooler, preferably airconditioned environment, reduce
their body temperature with coolclaws or a bath. Use a fan if
the heat index temperatures arebelow, the high 90s, and a fan
can make you hotter at highertemperature. And in this
scenario, do not give fluids.This is side note here, and I

(15:41):
mentioned it just a second ago,but they emphasize it. Using a
fan to blow air in someone'sdirection may actually make them
hotter if the heat indextemperatures are above the 90s.
So that's really goodinformation to know for

(16:01):
information on all of these heatrelated illnesses, see the
Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, CDC website. So
those are some great tips thatwe can pass along to ensure that
your loved one or the personthat you're caring for with

(16:22):
dementia, stays as safe as canbe under the extreme hot weather
conditions that we're allexperiencing across the country.
I want to share with you acouple more tips that I ran
across, and I think that theseare really important things to

(16:43):
be aware of too. This actuallyis a fabulous list to share with
people who support living withdementia. Not only is each
nugget meaningful in content,but reading it through their
perspective helps us growempathy for their situation. We

(17:04):
want to thank Cindy keen forsharing this really valuable
information. So it starts offsaying, If I get dementia, I'd
like my family to hang this wishlist up on the wall where I
live. I want them to rememberthese very important things.

(17:25):
Number one, every time you enterthe room, please announce Hi, my
name is you say Tom their yourname, and then tell them their
name. Number two, never ask, Doyou know who I am? Because that

(17:49):
can definitely cause anxiety.Number three, I really want my
friends and my family to embracemy reality. Number four, if I
think my spouse is still alive,or if I think we're visiting my

(18:10):
parents for dinner, let mebelieve those things, I'll be
much, much happier for it.Number five, don't argue with me
about what is true for me versuswhat is true for you. Your
reality is different from mine,number six, and if I'm not sure

(18:37):
who you are, please don't takeit personally. My timeline is
confusing to me.
Number seven, if I can no longeruse utensils, please do not
start feeding me. Instead,switch me to a finger food diet

(18:57):
and see if I can still feedmyself. Remember, help them and
encourage them to retain as muchof their independence as
possible for the stage they'reat in their dementia. Number
eight, if I'm sad or anxious,please hold my hand and listen.

(19:18):
Do not tell me that my feelingsare unfounded. Number nine, I
don't want to be treated like achild. Talk to me like the adult
that I am. Number 10, I stillwant to enjoy the things that
I've always enjoyed, so pleasehelp me find a way to exercise,

(19:41):
read and visit with my friends.Number 11, ask me to tell you a
story from my past. Number 12,and if I become agitated, take
the time to figure out what'sbothering me. Number 13, treat

(20:03):
me the way that you would wantto be treated. Number 14, make
sure there are plenty of snacksfor me in the house, even now,
if I don't eat, I get angry, andif I have dementia, I may have
trouble explaining to you what Ireally need. Number 15, don't

(20:27):
talk about me as if I'm not inthe room. I am aware of my
surroundings and what's going onin those surroundings. Number
16, I don't want you to feelguilty if you cannot care for
me, 24 hours a day, seven days aweek, it's not your fault, and

(20:47):
you're doing the very best. Youcan find someone who can help
you, or choose a great new placefor me to live, 17 if I live in
a dementia care community, Iwould love for you to visit me
often 18. Please don't actfrustrated if I mix up names,

(21:11):
events or places. Just try totake a deep breath. It's really
not my fault. It's my brainchanging due to the brain
disease that I have, 19, makesure I always have my favorite
music playing within earshot.Number 20. And if I pick up

(21:34):
items and carry them around, youcan help me return those items
to their original place. Number21 don't exclude me from parties
and family gatherings. Number 22know that I still love receiving
hugs and handshakes. Number 23remember I am still the person

(22:03):
you know and love. And those aresome exceptional tips if you
have a loved one, or if you'recaring for somebody who's living
with dementia. And these aretold from the perspective of the
person living with the braindisease, as their brains are

(22:24):
changing and they're progressingthrough the illness. So that's
what I have for you today. Ihope this has been really
valuable. Just make sure thatyou're paying attention if
you're in a hot weathersituation to all the things we
talked about to minimize therisk, or even prevent the risk

(22:44):
of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, and some really fine
tips of things, to say things,not to say things, to do things
not to do All these tips arealways really helpful in helping
increase the quality of life forpeople living with Alzheimer's

(23:07):
disease and related dementia.All right, so come back for
another new episode of thetruth, lies and Alzheimer's next
week, and I'll be here for you.I hope that you'll be back for
another brand new episode withsome more really helpful
information that I justabsolutely love sharing with all

(23:29):
of you. So for now, hope youenjoy the rest of your week and
stay healthy and cool. Bye fornow.