Course Objectives

The goal of this program is to provide nurses and other healthcare professionals with information about hypothermia and hyperthermia in the elderly, including signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Upon completion of this program you should be able to:

• Recognize why elderly patients have changes in body temperature regulation that make them susceptible to both hypothermia and hyperthermia.
• State approximately how many elderly individuals die each year in the United States from hypothermia and hyperthermia
• Identify specific risk factors for hypothermia in the elderly.
• Describe signs and symptoms of hypothermia.
• Identify treatment measures for hypothermia.
• List ways in which the elderly and their families/caregivers can reduce the risk of hypothermia.
• Identify specific risk factors for hyperthermia in the elderly.
• Recognize 5 categories of drugs that can increase hyperthermia risk in elderly patients.
• Distinguish the characteristics of: heat cramps, heat edema, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke
• Describe signs and symptoms of hyperthermia.
• Identify treatment for hyperthermia.
• List ways in which the elderly and their families/caregivers can reduce the risk of hyperthermia.