Back-to-school season is here, and while parents are busy grabbing supplies and organizing routines, health experts say it’s also the perfect time to focus on sleep and nutrition.

Amanda Pantone, a registered dietitian with Community Health Network, joined News 8 Daybreak to share ways families can set their kids up for success both in the classroom and at home.

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Mike Hamm is a 87-year-old veteran with dementia.

He stayed indoors in the cool air conditioning while outside temperature ticked to 91 degrees on Thursday.

He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 59 years. They’re helping each other, so they don’t overheat.

Mike usually sits in his La-Z-Boy and uses a walker to get around. There’s a small license plate on his walker that reads “Too cool 4 u.”

About the weather, he said, “It’s been like this for a long time in the 90s and it’s supposed to get to the 100s pretty soon, and I don’t think I’ll go out much.”

Mike didn’t seem to notice the increase in temperature outside but appreciated helping hands, including his wife. “My wife, too, she makes me drink a lot of ice water.”

The veteran spends most of his days inside watching TV and reading the newspaper.

Sharon said, “He rarely goes out, but he insists on doing that one thing — go out and get the mail — because he wants to do everything he’s used to.”

Sharon goes out of their home more often, and she said the heat makes it hard. “It’s harder to breathe. I do know the older one gets, your body starts conking in different types of places. Besides the breathing, you get tired of walking.”

Dr. Chris Ross, an emergency room physician from Community Health Network, said Thursday that older people are prone to heat stress because their bodies have a harder time adjusting to sudden temperatures.

Ross said heat exhaustion can be fatal if not treated promptly. He said, “If you’re confused, vomiting, sweating profusely and then not sweating anymore, those are the reasons to look for help.”

Ross had this advice for caretakers: “Take special care to make sure that the people you’re caring for have plenty of water access, to bathrooms. If they have issues like dementia and begin to wander, to make sure the doors are locked so they don’t get outside and get stuck outside because that’s when they could really get into trouble.”

Mike and Sharon have help, Senior Helpers, a home care service that helps them manage their well-being in the heat. Marta Guinn, director of operations, said, “Any clients with dementia, their short-term memory is gone, so we just suggest — we don’t ever make a client do anything — we just suggest the same thing over and over again. ‘Mr. Hamm, would you like some water?’ ‘Mr. Hamm, we haven’t had a drink. How about I’m going to get a drink from my water, would you like to take a drink out of yours?’ Lots of reminding.”

Guinn added that as people get older, their bodies don’t self-regulate as well as in the past, and some people may not realized they’re overheating.

Senior Helpers also recommends checking in with older parents, grandparents, neighbors or friends to make sure they have what they need during the heat wave.

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The Indiana Health Fair is back as part of the Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration, offering free health screenings, fitness activities, and vital resources for families across the state.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver says the goal is to break down barriers, especially for communities of color, by creating a welcoming space to talk about wellness.

“It’s way less intimidating than going to a doctor’s office,” Weaver said. “We have a lot of fun things there, there’s music, there’s people dancing. You can learn about your health and, at the same time, start those initial checkups.”

The health fair runs Thursday through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center. It’s open to all ages, with services ranging from blood pressure checks and cholesterol screenings to diabetes testing and high school physicals.

“There’s actually $4,000 worth of free screenings there,” Weaver said. “They’re doing high school physicals for those kiddos who are getting ready to go back to school and they need their physical.”

Beyond the screenings, the fair offers one-on-one help with navigating insurance, obtaining vital records, and connecting to long-term care.

“If they are identified as having a need at the fair, then of course we’re going to help to get them connected,” Weaver said. “You can get your birth certificate if you need to get your birth certificate. There’s really a lot of different volunteers and sponsors that are there to meet people wherever they’re at.”

Friday night is Ladies’ Night, with a spotlight on women’s health and a healthy dose of fun.

“People can come and learn about specifically women’s health care needs,” Weaver said. “But at the same time, during Ladies’ Night, they’re doing Zumba dancing, right? So, we have a mix of fun, and at the same time, checking up on your health and educating you about your health.”

Weaver encourages anyone who might be hesitant to attend to bring a friend or family member.

“If you are somebody who knows, has a family member, a friend, a neighbor, who you know is hesitant, ask them to come with you,” she said. “It is always better to have someone with you, and you’re going to meet a lot of smiling faces.”

Weaver added, “It is way easier to prevent disease than it is to treat it. And, so we really want to focus on that prevention piece.”

The Indiana Health Fair is free to attend and continues through Sunday inside the Indiana Convention Center.

Dates and times

• Thursday: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Friday: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Sunday: Noon – 6 p.m.

For more information, click here.

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