LAC LA BICHE - Living in places without air conditioning during hot weather can pose a risk for seniors and elders, says Stacey St. Jean, the executive director of the Lac La Biche Heritage Society.
“It’s not good if you have extra health issues as well,” she told Lakeland This Week on Tuesday morning as the start of another forecasted “heat wave” was expected to sweep across the Lakeland region and the entire province.
According to St. Jean, during a previous week of record-setting hot weather at the beginning of July, the local seniors’ centre opened its doors from 10 am to 2 pm each day specifically to offer seniors some air-conditioned shelter. Outside of that, however, St. Jean says seniors should make other arrangements for cooling off in this weather.
Many seniors and elders in Lac La Biche and Plamondon living in designated seniors’ housing units don’t have access to in-house air conditioning.
The Great North Foundation operates 24 apartments at Lac La Biche’s Island View building, 18 units at Place Bouvier, eight units at Plamondon’s Pioneer Villa and four units at North Star Villa. None of the units have built-in air conditioning.
According to Patrick Ferguson of the Greater North Foundation, the buildings were built many years ago, and therefore, none of them have air-conditioning either in the units or in common areas.
Ferguson continued by saying that since high temperatures provide a certain risk to seniors, staff at the organization try to find ways to help residents beat the heat.
Renting some relief
“We do encourage them to use a portable A/C unit or go and stay with family or friends that may have the option of an air-conditioner,” he said. “Our self-contained apartment buildings are for independent seniors, and we respect their right to an independent lifestyle and individual choices.”
Ferguson said residents also have the option to purchase portable air conditioning units that can be installed in windows. For this, he added, the Greater North Foundation charges a fee or $10 a month from for June, July, and August.
The Greater North Foundation also runs the 60-unit LacAlta Lodge in Lac La Biche. It is a newer building and does have air conditioning in common areas and hallways – but as with the other buildings, individual resident rooms do not have air conditioning.
Provincial heat check
During the recent hot weather trends, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued "tip-sheet" of ways for Albertans to cope with the heat.
The information encourages people to check on loved ones, especially those who may be socially isolated or live in housing without air conditioning, to see how they are coping in the heat. The information sheet says older adults, infants, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions are at greatest risk from extreme heat.
To keep rooms cool, AHS officials recommend closing window blinds or curtains. The tip sheet also recommends spending time in the home’s basement if it is available. Other options including finding public areas like shopping centres, libraries or – like in Lac La Biche – a seniors’ recreation centre.
Temperatures across the Lac La Biche region and the Lakeland are expected to remain well above seasonal averages for the remainder of the week. Daytime temperatures heading into the weekend were expected to be above 30C.
