San Diego's fall heat waves hit older adults hardest. Learn the warning signs, where to cool off, and how SDG&E and county programs can help.
By Diane Whitfield, CSA · October 04, 2026
San Diego is known for mild weather, but that reputation can lull families into complacency. Inland communities such as Escondido, El Cajon, Ramona and Alpine regularly see triple-digit temperatures, and September and October heat waves driven by Santa Ana winds often arrive when people have stopped thinking about summer precautions. Many older homes in the county were built without central air conditioning because the coast rarely needed it.
Older adults are more vulnerable to heat for several reasons. The body's ability to sense and release heat declines with age, and common medications, including diuretics, some blood pressure drugs, and certain antidepressants, can reduce sweating or increase fluid loss. Conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia add risk. A person with memory loss may not recognize that a room is dangerously warm or may forget to drink.
Heat exhaustion often looks like heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, or unusual fatigue. Move the person to a cooler place, loosen clothing, offer sips of water, and apply cool cloths. If symptoms do not improve within about an hour, call their doctor.
Heat stroke is an emergency. Signs include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, hot and dry skin (or sometimes still-damp skin), confusion, slurred speech, a rapid pulse, or loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately and cool the person with cold cloths while you wait. In older adults, confusion may be the first and only sign, so a sudden change in alertness during hot weather should never be dismissed as ordinary aging.
San Diego County's Aging and Independence Services operates a Cool Zones program that identifies air-conditioned public places, such as libraries, senior centers and community buildings, where older adults can spend hot afternoons. Locations and hours change by season, so call the Area Agency on Aging at 800-339-4661 or dial 211 San Diego to find the closest open site. During declared heat events, the county and many cities also publicize additional cooling centers.
Transportation is often the barrier. If your parent no longer drives, ask the senior center or city about shuttles, and consider pre-arranging a ride before the forecast turns hot. Malls, movie theaters and grocery stores are also reasonable short-term options for a mobile senior on a hot afternoon.
Fear of a high bill keeps many seniors from running air conditioning. SDG&E offers the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) discount for income-qualified households and a Medical Baseline program that provides a lower rate for customers who rely on certain medical equipment or have qualifying conditions; a physician's certification is typically required. Call SDG&E or visit sdge.com to confirm current eligibility and enrollment steps. Ask also about Energy Savings Assistance, which can include free weatherization and, for some households, appliance upgrades.
Simple steps help too: close blinds on sun-facing windows by mid-morning, run fans only when the room is not hotter than the body, take a cool shower, wear light cotton, and schedule errands for early morning. Place a thermometer in the room where your parent spends the most time rather than relying on the thermostat setting, and check on them in person or by phone at least twice a day during a heat wave.
If your parent lives in assisted living or board and care, ask how the community handles heat. California-licensed residential care facilities are required to maintain safe indoor temperatures and to protect residents from hazards, and you can review a facility's inspection and citation history at ccld.dss.ca.gov. Ask whether common areas have working air conditioning, how staff track fluid intake, and what the plan is if power goes out. For veterans, the VA San Diego Healthcare System in La Jolla can also advise enrolled patients on medication-related heat risks.
Free, no-pressure call. We work for families, not facilities.