Heat Protection in Nursing Homes: Expert Calls for Mandatory Measures Against Extreme Weather

Risks for Elderly and Care-Dependent People

The demands focus on concrete measures in care facilities. These include sufficiently air-conditioned or at least well-ventilated rooms, an adapted drinking regimen, and rescheduled daily routines to avoid intense midday heat. Trained staff capable of recognizing signs of heat stress early on is also essential.

Beyond nursing homes, Bachner sees a need for action across society as a whole. Cities must mitigate so-called heat islands—highly heated urban districts with little green space and lots of asphalt, where heat accumulates particularly intensely. Greening, shading, and smart urban planning could provide a remedy here.

Cities in Focus: Mitigating Heat Islands

The University of Graz is examining the consequences of climate change for Austria within the framework of various population scenarios. This research shows that the number of heatwaves will continue to increase in the coming decades. This will also raise the number of people who rely on protective measures.

In the health policy debate, it is additionally pointed out that nursing home residents often suffer from pre-existing conditions and take medications that can further impair the body's heat regulation. This significantly increases the risk during heat periods.

Help Through Neighborhood Networks and Volunteering

Volunteer initiatives and aid organizations are seen as an important complement to institutional measures. Neighborhood help, regular phone contact with elderly people living alone, and the installation of drinking stations in public places could contribute to improving the care situation.

The expert's demands are directed equally at the federal government, the states, and the municipalities, as well as at the operators of care facilities. The federal government and the states must create the necessary legal and financial framework conditions, while the municipalities should ensure heat-resilient infrastructure in public spaces.

Appeal to Politics and Society

Bachner also emphasized that public awareness campaigns are necessary to sharpen awareness among the population. Many people underestimate the health dangers of heat and consider it a purely summer phenomenon. Only when heat is treated as what it is—an extreme weather event—can effective protection strategies be implemented.

In conclusion, the expert referred to existing heat protection plans that have already been successfully implemented in some European countries. Austria could benefit from these experiences and adapt corresponding plans more quickly in order to better protect the vulnerable population.