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It’s not the heat. It’s the humility

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August 4, 2015

Yogi Berra, the iconic baseball catcher, manager, and coach, was known for his witty and paradoxical sayings.  We’ve all heard “it ain’t over till it’s over.”  He also said, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humility.”  In South Carolina, we all know it’s all about the humidity.  But for our seniors, there may really be some humility mixed in. It can be difficult for seniors to ask for or accept help, even when they are truly needy. As a community, we need to look out for each other, and this is especially true in helping seniors avoid heat related illness.

Seniors can get heat illness more easily than younger people can. Their bodies do not adjust as well to sudden changes in temperature, and they are more likely to have health conditions that affect the body’s normal response to heat.

If you have senior relatives or neighbors, you can help them prevent heat illness during hot weather.  Visit them at least twice a day and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.  Encourage them to drink plenty of cool water, as seniors may not feel thirsty even when their bodies are low on fluids.

Our daily delivery of meals in the Meals on Wheels program is a great opportunity for volunteers and staff to check up on our seniors.  Our other programs also keep close contact with seniors to ensure they stay safe during the heat of summer.  Not only does it take a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to keep one of our most precious resources, our seniors, safe and healthy. If you’d like to be part of the village watching out for the health and safety of our seniors, check out our volunteer opportunities. If you have a loved one who could use a daily visit or meal, click here to contact us.