THE IMPACT OF SUDDEN INCREASES OF SUMMER TEMPERATURES ON THE HEALTH OF OLDER PEOPLE

Podnebne spremembe bodo vplivale na zdravje in počutje ljudi ter na kakovost njihovega življenja. Ob teh spremembah bodo najbolj ogroženi starostniki, zato je zdravstveno-vzgojno delo medicinskih sester za pravilno ravnanje ob povečanju temperatur zelo pomembno. Starostniki so zaradi svojih bioloških lastnosti in posledično tudi zaradi zmanjšane telesne zmogljivosti in slabe presoje glede izpostavljenosti soncu v vročih poletnih dneh zelo izpostavljena in ranljiva populacija. Metodologija raziskovanja. V raziskavi smo uporabili kvantitativno in kvalitativno metodologijo zbiranja podatkov z uporabo delno strukturiranega vprašalnika in nestrukturiranega intervjuja. V raziskovalni vzorec smo v kvantitativnem delu vključili 100 starostnikov, v kvalitativnem delu pa smo vključili 10 medicinskih sester. Raziskava je potekala v domu starejših. Rezultati. Raziskava je pokazala, da so starostniki najbolj ogrožena skupina zaradi podnebnih sprememb. Starostniki poznajo podnebne spremembe in vedo, kako nagla povišanja poletnih temperatur vplivajo na njihovo zdravje. Medicinske sestre poznajo znake vročinsko obremenjenega starostnika in ukrepe za preprečevanje zdravstvenih težav, ki nastanejo zaradi vročine. Temeljna vloga medicinskih sester je izvajanje zdravstveno-vzgojnega dela. Sklep. Podnebne spremembe, ki smo jim priča, bodo v prihodnosti vedno bolj izrazite, lahko ogrozijo kakovost bivanja bolnega starostnika kakor tudi zdravega starostnika. Medicinske sestre se morajo na pričakovane klimatske spremembe v sodelovanju z drugimi zdravstvenimi delavci in strokovnjaki s področja podnebnih sprememb pripraviti in ustrezno posredovati zdravstveno-vzgojne ukrepe starostnikom ter jih pravočasno izvajati.The climate changes that are present today and will also be more pronounced in the future, can greatly affect the quality of the healthy as well as the sick elderly person. Therefore it is very important that nurses handle properly when temperatures increase in summer. Elderlies are the most exposed and vulnerable population due to their biological properties, lack of exercise and poor judgment about exposure to the sun during hot summer days. Methodology of research. In the survey we used the quantitative as well as the qualitative data collection methodology. We collected information by using partially structured questionnaire and non-structured interview. We included 100 elderlies in quantitative data collection and 10 nurses in the qualitative data collection. The survey was conducted in the nursing home. Results. The survey established that elderlies are among the most vulnerable population due to the climate changes. Elderlies are aware of climate changes and know how the sudden increase of temperatures can affect their health. Nurses know the impact of sudden increase of temperatures on elderlies and the measures they have to take to prevent health problems that are due to the sudden increase of temperatures. The fundamental role of nurses is the health care. Conclusion. The climate change that is present today and will be more pronounced in the future, can greatly affect the quality of elderly lives. Nurses should prepare on expected climate changes with the help of other health care professionals and experts in the field of climate change. They should prepare appropriate and timely measures and educate elderlies about health problems due to sudden increase of temperatures