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Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie 5/2018

06.11.2017 | Originalien

Social participation and heat-related behavior in older adults during heat waves and on other days

verfasst von: Dr. Ulrich Lindemann, Dawn A. Skelton, Juha Oksa, Nina Beyer, Kilian Rapp, Clemens Becker, Jochen Klenk

Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie | Ausgabe 5/2018

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Abstract

Background

High indoor temperatures require behavioral adaptation, especially among vulnerable older adults. There are uncertainties as to the degree to which people adapt to these challenging conditions.

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe the degree of adaptation of social participation and other heat-related behavior with respect to higher indoor temperatures.

Methods

In this study 81 residents from 10 sheltered living facilities (84% women, mean age 80.9 years) were visited every 4 weeks from May to October 2015 and additionally during 2 heat waves in July and August 2015. The indoor temperature, drinking and clothing and social participation were documented. Baseline documentation of gait speed and residential area were used to create subgroups of people with high or low gait speed and with facility location in a garden city/suburb or city/city center.

Results

Social participation and clothing decreased with −4.53 in the World Health Organization participation score units (95% confidence interval CI −5.32; −3.74) and −0.41 for clothing units (95% CI −0.46; −0.37) and volume of drinking increased (0.65 l/day; 95% CI 0.52; 0.77) per increase of indoor temperature by 10 °C. The negative association between indoor temperature and social life participation was stronger if functional capacity was low or if the facility was located in the city/city center. Not all older adults displayed temperature-related adaptive behavior.

Conclusion

For older adults the negative association between indoor temperature and social life participation was stronger in the city/city center or if their functional capacity was low. Frequent personal contact and motivation of those who are frail might be helpful to support their adaptive behavior of drinking and clothing during heat stress.
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Metadaten
Titel
Social participation and heat-related behavior in older adults during heat waves and on other days
verfasst von
Dr. Ulrich Lindemann
Dawn A. Skelton
Juha Oksa
Nina Beyer
Kilian Rapp
Clemens Becker
Jochen Klenk
Publikationsdatum
06.11.2017
Verlag
Springer Medizin
Erschienen in
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie / Ausgabe 5/2018
Print ISSN: 0948-6704
Elektronische ISSN: 1435-1269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-017-1338-8

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