A Quick Temperature Check for Seniors

By: Ann Burnside Love

In the natural climate wherever we’ve lived much of our lives, most of us have developed opinions on which temperatures are comfortable, which are tolerable and what’s miserable. We’re also aware of how these varying climates affect our health and lifestyle. Some of us, me included, have become extra-sensitive to temperature extremes, and therefore try to avoid them.

Many retirees are aware of the benefits of a residential living community — where you no longer have to shovel snow, clean snow off your car, drive through ice and storms to the doctors’ offices, grocery stores or on shopping errands.

Fewer have seriously considered living through record-breaking hot summers in their present homes as being extra challenging and no longer doable — when your air conditioning is over-stressed or non-existent, your car is an oven, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds have become overly heavy chores indeed, especially if you’re living on your own, or you and/or your spouse have restricting health challenges.

And, when we add in what’s happening now that we’re experiencing climate change —with greater weather extremes becoming routine — we may realize that seeking a more dependable, more comfortable living arrangement with a wide variety of amenities and services becomes important to us.

I became aware of summer heat challenges  — before having air conditioning and my four children were young — and I often felt faint just getting up from a chair quickly.

My doctor listened to my story, took my blood pressure, and announced I had low pressure, which was why I felt weak in hot weather, and told me to go eat a bag of potato chips. I remembered back to my pregnancies when my obstetrician’s staff would cheer when my blood pressure got up to 100. So that’s why I still salt my food as needed, while others watch me, shake their heads, then remark on too much salt in the soup.

There are countless reasons why so many of us find a residential living community a fine place to live during our senior years. One, that has nothing to do with weather, is because we make wonderful friends and enjoy their company — as well as our privacy! But when the winds blow hard, and major storms come in all seasons, and the trees in the forest adjoining our community sway dramatically and a couple actually crack or uproot, this is a great place to be, comfortable and cozy, rain falling in sheets or the snow obliterating the surroundings, I know that the lightning bugs will visit my balcony in season, the birds will awaken me on spring mornings, and that a hot lunch awaits me in the dining room — and my children all know I am safe and sound, doing my own thing.

Consider your options, consider your weather and temperature preferences, and see if you wouldn’t be more comfortable — and safer — in the retirement living community of your choice. Carry on!

Ann’s new blog appears here every Thursday.  Comments are welcome!