Gesundheit - Empfehlungen für Betreiber von Altersheimen bei Hitzewellen

Preparedness of retirement and care homes and health care professionals  

Retirement and care homes buildings and facilities

Buildings
Check that windows can be shaded.
Check there are no problems opening windows, including security considerations.
Ensure staff know which rooms are most easy to keep cool, and which are the most difficult, and review the distribution of residents accordingly.
If one exists, check that the cooling or air-conditioning system works properly. It should be able to keep the air temperature  at  or  below  25 °C  in  at  least  one  large  room.  Otherwise  consider  installing  or  renting  an  air-conditioning unit.
Make sure you have enough thermometers to accurately monitor temperatures throughout the building.

Facilities
Check you have an adequate supply of fans and water sprays.
Check water and ice are widely available.
Arrange for water to be distributed in the event of a heat-wave.
Adapt menus preferably with high water content, such as fruit and salads, in consultation with residents.

Working arrangements
Work out a protocol for changes to management arrangements in the event of a heat-wave to cover:
Mobilization of staff, including recall of those on holiday.
Changes to rotas.
Getting extra help from relatives of residents.
Getting extra help from volunteers.

Residents
Make sure you know who is most at risk – ask primary care staff if you are unsure.
Ensure you have protocols to monitor residents most at risk and to provide additional care and support.
Ask GPs of at-risk residents about possible changes in treatment or medication in the event of a heat-wave.
Check that residents have light, loose-fitting, cotton clothing to wear.

Health care professionals
For  health  and  social  care  professionals  who  visit  vulnerable  individuals  at  home,  similar  advice  is  given  in relation to preparing the home. The following points are mentioned in addition.

Facilities
Check fridges and freezers work properly.
Check fans and cooling devices work properly.
If you plan to move the person somewhere cooler in the event of a heat-wave, consider what equipment or help you might need.

Organization
Check that extra care and support is available if needed.
Check that the person can contact the primary care team if one of their informal carers is unavailable.
Check that their care plan contains contact details for their GP, other care workers and informal carers.
Check that there are adequate arrangements for food shopping.

If a heat-wave is forecast for your region:
•   make sure you have taken the steps outlined above;
•   monitor  the  current  situation  by  checking  the  “heat–health  watch”  level  on  the  Internet (www.metoffice.gov.uk) or listening to local weather news;
•   make sure you know what advice to give people at risk (a public information leaflet with tips on what to do  in  a  heat-wave  is  available  from  GP  practices,  pharmacies,  NHS  walk-in  centres,  hospitals,  care homes, benefit offices and voluntary organizations);
•   suggest  people  at  particular  risk  consult  their  GP  about  possible  changes  to  their  treatment  and/or medication.

In addition, emergency treatment advice is given for the situation when heatstroke is suspected and pre-existing diseases and medication that put people at particular risk are listed.

Quelle: Heatwave plan for England, Department of Health, 2007