Seniors Try to Save Money During Heatwave
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Medical personnel said as heat indices surpass 100 degrees Wednesday through Saturday, seniors should especially be careful not to succumb to heat exhaustion. “Utilities cost is a big expense for them so running a fan is much less expensive,” said Terrie Adkins, LPN at Southwest Area Agency for the Aging and Disabled. Adkins said seniors, often trying to conserve energy to avoid high utility bills, will refrain from running the air conditioning to the detriment of their health. “When it comes down to your health, if you don’t take precautions, if you don’t stay cool and you don’t stay hydrated, you’re going to wind up in the hospital,” said Adkins. She said seniors can often tolerate more heat, but this does not mean their less likely to suffer heat-related illnesses. “I don’t want my lights cut off so I just cut it down at night and use the fans,” said Vera Wylle, a Jackson senior. Wylle, 78, is on a fixed income and said she sets her thermostat to 79 degrees to avoid high utility bills. “Back here in the winter the gas bill was so high, I didn’t know how I would pay it,” she adds. Adkins said seniors taking diuretics should be especially careful. She said the medications can lead to severe dehydration if not taken with plenty of water.
