The overall temperature in your gerontological unit is 62° F during the evening shift. In documenting this concern to the administration, which factor is the most important for the health and well-being of older adults?
a. It is not fair for older adults to have to deal with an uncomfortable environment.
b. Some of the residents are wearing blankets around their shoulders to keep warm.
c. An ambient temperature of 62° F is un-suitable for older people because they have impaired thermoregulation.
d. It feels much warmer in the administration wing than out in the patient care areas.
C
Under no circumstances should the temperature drop below 65° F because older adults are at risk for hypothermia. Furthermore, frail older adults need the temperature to be considerably higher. The issue is not one of fairness but a more fundamental issue of patient safety. Some of the resi-dents wearing blankets may represent individual temperature preferences. The purpose is to make the point that the patients are vulnerable to low temperatures, not to make veiled accusations against the administrators.
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