As temperatures climb across Colorado, caregivers are getting creative — and serious — about protecting loved ones with dementia from the silent dangers of extreme heat.
Summer isn’t easy for everyone. While most people welcome the season with sunscreen and backyard barbecues, families caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia face a different kind of pressure — how to keep them cool, hydrated, and safe.
This week, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) put out a reminder to the public: extreme heat can turn dangerous fast, especially for those who can’t recognize thirst, forget where they are, or misread their body’s signals.
In Grand Junction, where triple-digit temperatures aren’t unusual, that message hit home for families already on high alert.
Not Just a Comfort Issue — It’s a Health Risk
Dementia affects the brain’s ability to process physical signals. That includes detecting thirst, overheating, and even environmental cues like where you are and how long you’ve been in the sun.
“It’s not just about being warm,” said Christine Hardy, a home care nurse who works with several families in Mesa County. “It’s about whether someone realizes they need water, or whether they think walking outside at noon is a good idea. Sometimes they just don’t know.”
Even in air-conditioned homes, problems can arise. A confused person may adjust a thermostat the wrong way, step out to check the mail and forget how to get back, or drink coffee instead of water on a hot day.
What Families Are Doing to Stay Ahead
For those with dementia, prevention isn’t optional — it’s the only defense.
Theresa Lane, who cares for her 78-year-old mother diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s, said summer has become her most stressful season.
“I have alarms for everything — water, meds, snack time,” she said. “And I keep ice pops in the freezer just so she’ll hydrate without a fight.”
It’s not about big changes. It’s about doing the small things consistently, every day, to make sure a heat-related emergency doesn’t sneak up.
Here are a few strategies caregivers in Colorado shared:
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Label water bottles clearly and leave them where they’re visible and accessible
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Switch to decaf without saying it — many dementia patients don’t notice the difference
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Use large-print signs on thermostats and exits
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Dress them in breathable layers, even indoors
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Keep daily walks limited to early morning or after sunset
Recognizing Trouble Before It Hits
The problem with heat stroke is it doesn’t yell — it whispers.
That’s especially true in dementia patients, who may not communicate symptoms clearly or recognize them at all.
Here are key red flags to watch for:
| Symptom | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Heavy sweating or no sweat | Too much OR none at all can both be bad signs |
| Dizziness or confusion | May appear as agitation, pacing, or blank stares |
| Muscle cramps | Especially in legs or hands during or after activity |
| Rapid pulse | Often overlooked but easy to catch if checked manually |
| Nausea or vomiting | Can spiral fast due to existing dehydration |
Even one of these should prompt immediate cooling measures: water, fans, wet cloths, and if symptoms worsen, a call to 911.
Wandering in the Heat Is a Real Concern
Of all the risks tied to dementia and summer heat, wandering might be the scariest.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees,” said Officer Travis Gutierrez, who handles welfare checks in Garfield and Mesa counties. “We get calls from family members who say their dad just walked out the door and didn’t come back. It happens fast.”
Dementia patients may leave home due to restlessness, anxiety, or confusion. Sometimes they think they’re going to work, school, or catching a bus that hasn’t existed for 30 years.
To reduce wandering risk:
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Install door alarms or motion detectors at exits
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Keep important items (keys, shoes) out of reach
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Design indoor walking paths with meaningful visual cues
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Use music, puzzles, or folding laundry to redirect restless energy
One caregiver in Palisade created a circular “garden walk” in her backyard with painted stones and flowerbeds. “It gives my husband the feeling that he’s going somewhere — even if he just loops the yard for 15 minutes.”
Caregivers Need a Break, Too
Being a caregiver during the summer months is like being on a never-ending safety patrol. And it’s exhausting.
“I don’t sit down until 10 p.m.,” said Lane. “Even when it’s calm, you can’t totally relax.”
Experts say caregivers should make self-care part of the safety plan. That means scheduling respite hours, using adult day programs, or leaning on family and neighbors for help — even if it’s just to run to the store or take a walk alone.
“There’s this unspoken guilt,” said Hardy. “But the truth is, you can’t take care of someone else if you’re burned out.”
A Community-Wide Challenge
It’s not just about what’s happening inside homes. Public places need to step up, too.
Libraries, grocery stores, and community centers can be summer lifelines — but only if they’re dementia-friendly. Clear signage, shaded benches, and staff trained in basic dementia response go a long way.
Some towns have even considered “cooling buddy” programs — where volunteers check in on elderly or at-risk neighbors during heat waves.
It’s not charity. It’s preparedness.
And with heatwaves growing longer and hotter in the West, it may become the new norm.
