7/17/13 - The Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency is urging seniors to be wary of the heat this summer and to take measures to keep cool. Seniors living on fixed incomes often have a difficult time affording air conditioning, and excessive heat can be more deadly and harder to escape than the cold of winter. OLHSA recommends several steps seniors can take to make sure the heat doesnât get the best of them, such as avoiding strenuous work, wearing loose clothing, closing the blinds to keep out the sun, and enjoying cold or frozen treats in the afternoon to cool off. Seniors with no air conditioning can also go shopping, see a movie, or visit a cooling shelter on hot days to enjoy the air conditioning at those locations. OLHSA also advises seniors to work together with their neighbors to form a buddy system where a neighbor will check on the senior once a day to make sure they are coping with the heat. The agency also offers utility assistance and currently has funds available to help keep air conditioning units running for houses that already have them installed. (TD)
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