What This Unusual Summer Is Doing to Our Seniors
The summer of 2025 in Kashmir is like an unexpected guest with no manners. Relentless, dry, sticky and uncharacteristically warm, this season has pushed thermometers to levels that our elders and us didn’t grow up knowing. But heat doesn’t just tire the body, it unsettles its old memories.
For some time now, I have been observing a noticeable rise in patients—particularly elderly individuals—coming in with a similar set of complaints.
“Doctor sahab, my knees are hurting more than usual.”
“Baba is saying his back feels heavy all day.”
“My father used to go for a walk, now he says his ankles feel jammed.”
And then, another recurring concern:
“My parents seem down. They’re not smiling much.”
“They say they’re okay, but they’re dull. Low. Slower than before.”
Let’s talk about both, why summer brings joint pain, and why this heat might be dimming the emotional and physical energy of our elders.
The Heat Paradox
Most people associate joint stiffness with cold winters. But this summer, something surprising is happening: joint pain is increasing.
Here’s why:
- Dehydration is stealthy
Our joints are surrounded by synovial fluid, a lubricant that keeps them gliding smoothly. In high heat, dehydration silently reduces this fluid, leaving joints drier and stiffer. Think of a door hinge that hasn’t been oiled, movement becomes creaky and painful.
- Mineral loss through sweat
When elders sweat more, they lose essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, and sodium, which are critical for muscle and joint health. A deficiency in these can lead to cramping, spasms and increased sensitivity in joints, especially knees and lower back.
- Inflammation doesn’t take a holiday
Some elderly individuals suffer from chronic inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Heat can dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow and, paradoxically, amplifying inflammatory responses in already compromised joints.
- Reduced physical activity
In the heat, many seniors cut back on their usual movement. Less movement leads to stiffness. Muscles around joints weaken, and the support system around knees, ankles, and spine becomes more vulnerable. Motion, in moderation, is still medicine.
How to Help Seniors During a Heat-Induced Flare-up
Hydrate differently: 8-10 glasses of water is not enough. Offer coconut water, lassi, ORS or lemon-water with a pinch of salt and sugar. Eat watermelon, cucumber.
Magnesium-rich diet: Include banana, almonds, leafy greens and soaked raisins, they support muscle function.
Gentle joint movement: Encourage indoor stretches, slow ankle and wrist rolls, and wall-supported squats.
Cold compress in the heat: Applying cold packs to knees and lower back in hot weather gives immense relief. It calms inflammation and numbs pain.
The Emotional Melt
Now let’s come to the quieter complaint “They feel low.”
Not sad. Not depressed. Just... dulled. Like a lamp glowing at half brightness.
If you’re a caregiver, you may have noticed this. Your ageing parent is sleeping more. Talking less. Laughing less. Not engaging in routine chores. Not eating with the same joy.
This isn’t just aging. This is seasonal emotional fatigue and in Kashmir this year, it is real.
Why?
Sleep gets disturbed: Elderly people already struggle with fragmented sleep. In the heat, poor sleep worsens. Less REM sleep = poorer mood regulation.
Loss of appetite: Appetite naturally dips in heat, but when elders eat less, they miss out on brain nutrients like B12, folate, and Omega-3s, all of which support emotional stability.
Isolation deepens: In cooler weather, many elders sit outside, walk in parks, or socialize. This summer, they’re confined indoors with ceiling fans and silence. Social withdrawal mimics low mood.
Caregiver fatigue: And let’s be honest, caregivers themselves are struggling in the heat. When the people around you are stretched, it’s hard to feel emotionally held.
Small Shifts to Brighten Their Days
Reverse the day: Encourage outdoor sitting early morning and post-sunset. Even 10 minutes in fresh air uplifts mood.
Music medicine: Create a short playlist of their favourite songs or nostalgic tunes. Play it during their most inactive hour of the day.
Lighter meals, more often: Serve small, cooling meals curd rice, fruit salads, veg salads in addition to small portions of lunch and dinner rather than 2 heavy ones.
Talk therapy: Just sit and ask: “How are you really feeling in this heat?” Don’t offer solutions. Offer ears.
What This Summer Is Really Telling Us
Kashmir isn’t used to this kind of heat. Neither are its elders. And while fans and cool drinks may soothe the surface, it is the emotional and physiological care beneath that truly matters.
Our ageing parents and grandparents are not just adjusting to the climate, they are adjusting to their changing bodies, their memories, their aches, and their growing dependence. The heat only amplifies what is already fragile.
This summer, don’t just ask your elders how they are feeling.
Watch how they sit. Listen to how often they sigh. See what they don’t finish on their plate.
Because sometimes, the loudest health signals come without words.
NOTE: If symptoms worsen, or if there is a loss of consciousness, reduced or no urine output, seek immediate medical attention and consult your doctor without delay.
