As we're all aware, the UK is currently experiencing a heatwave that is set to intensify over the next week. This poses a particular threat to the health of people living in care homes and means that care home staff will need to work hard to keep residents safe from the heat.
Here are some top tips from the latest government guidelines for looking after people during this time:
It sounds obvious but everyone should drink plenty of water during a heatwave! It may be a good idea to place a jug of water in each resident's room and to monitor hydration levels regularly. Try to ensure that residents avoid caffeine, alcohol, and very sweet drinks during this time as well, as these drinks cause your body to lose more fluid.
Try to arrange for cold drinks to be given regularly during the heatwave and, where possible, see if you can adapt menus to colder meals, whilst making sure to consult with residents about any meal changes. Salads and fruit are highly recommended due to their higher water content.
Make sure you have sufficient stock of oral rehydration salts, orange juice and bananas which help to maintain electrolyte balance for those on diuretics.
Be aware of which residents are most at risk and make sure there are procedures to monitor these residents. Body temperature, oxygen saturation, blood pressure and hydration levels should be monitored regularly. Users of digital systems can visualise this information in real-time. If recording this information on paper, it is important to be aware of what is normal for a particular resident and to react if a resident’s health starts deteriorating.
Be extra vigilant for changes in behaviour such as excessive drowsiness. Signs such as headaches, unusual tiredness, weakness, giddiness and disorientation could indicate health issues linked to the heat.
Ask the GP of at-risk residents about possible changes in treatment or medication and to review residents on multiple medications. GPs may consider prescribing oral hydration salts for those on high doses of diuretics.
Take extra care to ensure that medicines are stored in a cool place and away from direct sunlight. Take particular care with dispersible and effervescent products for storage in the heat as these medicines can melt in warmer temperatures.
Ask your pharmacist to check for medication side effects for at-risk residents, as some medications can have a significant effect on sweating and can increase dehydration. Medicines that affect the ability to sweat or thermoregulate include anticholinergics, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, drugs that reduce renal function, diuretics, psychoactive drugs and antihypertensives.
Create cool rooms and areas where colder temperatures can be maintained. The use of fans, ventilation, indoor and outdoor shading can be used to create these cool areas. Make sure that staff know which rooms are easiest to keep cool and which are most difficult, ensuring that high-risk residents can access the cooler areas.
Check that windows can be shaded and that there are no problems opening windows whilst acknowledging the security risks.
Indoor temperatures should be monitored, and fans can provide relief in higher temperatures. It’s worth remembering that fans can cause excess dehydration, so it is best to aim fans away from people, where possible. This is especially important for people with reduced mobility, who are confined to bed.
Try to ensure that residents wear loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing. Also, be aware that plastic pads and mattresses can also heat up quickly during a heatwave.
During a heatwave, it's advisable to discourage residents from going out in the hottest parts of the day. This can be from 11am to 3pm. This may not always be possible, but avoiding those peak temperatures will reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.
By now, you probably already know how to make sure the residents of your care home are comfortable and hydrated during a heatwave. But what about you? As a care worker, you should also take extra steps to look after yourself too.
For more information, see the latest government guidelines on supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave.