Heat puts a strain on older people
Hot weather can cause serious health problems, particularly for older people and those with chronic illnesses. The risk increases as hot weather persists.
Risk factors include, for example:
- cardiovascular diseases
- respiratory diseases
- kidney diseases
- diabetes
- mental health disorders
- neurological conditions, such as memory disorders, and
- other factors affecting physical or mental functional capacity.
Climate change and ageing increase the harms of heat
Health problems can occur even on individual hot days. The risk of serious harm increases particularly during heatwaves. A heatwave lasting several weeks can result in hundreds of hospital admissions and premature deaths in Finland.
Hot summers are becoming more frequent due to climate change, and the ageing of the population also significantly increases the risk of heat-related health problems.
Healthcare and social welfare must prepare for hot weather
Healthcare and social welfare facilities should consider the risks associated with hot weather well in advance. Preparedness measures should be planned and written instructions drawn up for staff on how to act during hot weather before the hot season begins. It is important that preparedness guidelines are also drawn up in units providing home care services and other non-residential services.
Indoor temperatures can rise to dangerously high levels in hot weather. It is therefore important to ensure sufficiently effective cooling in social and health care institutions and care units. Passive measures should be used to cool spaces, such as shading windows from the sun and ventilating rooms or increasing ventilation in the evening and at night when the outdoor air has cooled.
If passive measures are not sufficient, cooling air conditioning units should be used. Every social and health care institution and care unit should be able, when necessary, to cool at least some of the spaces used by patients and staff, as well as those critical to operations, to below 25 degrees Celsius.
More home visits during hot weather periods
An increasing number of older people live at home. Help is therefore needed not only in social and health care institutions and care units, but also in people's homes.
When heatwaves are prolonged, home care services should increase home visits or remote contact with clients, and advise clients and their family members on preventing the harmful effects of heat. If a home becomes severely overheated, one option is to temporarily move to a care facility or to stay with a family member.
During heatwaves, it is important to try to keep living spaces cool. Windows on the sunny side of the building should be shaded by drawing curtains or closing blinds. When the outdoor air has cooled in the evening, windows should be opened and the whole home ventilated. A portable air conditioning unit or air source heat pump can provide effective relief from the heat.
Fans increase air circulation and provide relief if the room temperature is below 35 degrees Celsius. In temperatures above this, fans should not be used, as they increase the heat load on the body.
Moistening the skin and wearing damp clothing, cold compresses, and cool showers can also help to cool the body.
Help from a doctor and those close to you
It is worth discussing with a doctor well in advance how hot weather affects a chronic illness or the medication used to treat it. Medicines generally need to be stored at below 25 degrees Celsius, but not in excessively cold conditions. Check the packaging for the correct storage temperature.
In hot weather, those in the most vulnerable position are older people living alone, and particularly those whose functional capacity has been significantly reduced due to physical or mental health reasons. It is important for those close to them and their neighbours to help them protect themselves from the heat.
It is a good idea to keep in daily contact with those in at-risk groups and check that all is well. They should also be supported in cooling their home and, where necessary, helped to contact healthcare services.
Symptoms of heat illness can include fatigue, weakness, nausea, headache, and a rise in body temperature. If symptoms occur, rest in a cool place and drink plenty of water.
Healthcare services should be contacted if severe or prolonged symptoms of heat illness occur, if the symptoms of an underlying condition worsen noticeably, or if general wellbeing deteriorates. You can call your health centre or the out-of-hours helpline on 116117.
Call the emergency number 112 only in urgent situations. Call the emergency number immediately if a person is confused or has a reduced level of consciousness.