Notice: Extreme Heat Awareness for Older Adults

It’s key to understand that for older adults, their bodies cannot regulate temperature as efficiently as younger people. They face a combination of biological changes and underlying health conditions that can contribute to heat-related issues, impacting their medications, how their body cools down, and even how well they can move or leave the house to get to a cooler, safer area. Socioeconomic standing also impacts older adults in cases of extreme heat. They may not be able to afford a cooling system, or can afford a high utility bill, and they limit their access to air conditioning or fans, and others do not have transportation to get to cooling centers/shelters where they live.

Being aged 60+, older adults have a reduction of active sweat glands and decreasing blood flow to the skin, making it hard for their bodies to release heat. Many also experience the loss of their natural sense of thirst, which can lead to severe and rapid dehydration. Older adults aged 60+ also may struggle to adapt to sudden temperature changes or prolonged high humidity. It is important to stress that older adults taking prescription drugs understand these medications can directly interfere with the body’s ability to sweat, control blood pressure, and regulate internal temperatures in the heat.

Here are some key steps older adults should take during the summer months:

• ** Keep medications (pills & liquids) stored at controlled room temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees F.
• This is key for Insulin, Epi-Pens and Inhalers.
• Extreme heat physically changes chemical structures and can make life-saving drugs stop working entirely.

Heat Stoke & Heat Exhaustion warnings in attachment.

Information provided by registered nurse and Vice President of the AOoA’s Guiding Paths for Seniors Department; Ireatha Hollie. Interviews can be scheduled with Corey Clagg today after 11:30 a.m. at our Toledo Branch office, via zoom or over the phone.

Release                                                                           

Ohio – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Area Office on Aging are once again offering assistance to help Ohio’s families stay cool during the hot summer months. From July 1 through Sept. 30, income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program (HEAP).

The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households and those who have a disconnection notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill, require air conditioning, or those with a household member age 60 or older and/or a household member with a documented medical condition. Qualifying medical conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, and others.

To qualify for assistance, Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for a family of up to seven members, and 60 percent of the State Median Income for a family of eight or more members. For a family of four, the annual income must be at or below $57,750.

In 2025, the Summer Crisis Program assisted more than 55,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $12.4 million in benefits.

“Those ages 60 and better are particularly susceptible to experiencing heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses, says President/CEO of the Area Office on Aging Justin Moor. We want to do whatever it can to help older adults stay as cool as possible when the temperature outside is dangerously hig

To apply for the program, clients are required to schedule an appointment with their local community action provider. See the list below for each county’s specific contact.

Clients need to bring copies of the following documents to their appointment:

• Copies of their most recent energy bills.
• A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
• Proof of disability (if applicable).
• Physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health.