Protective measures for elderly care amidst the heatwave: it's high time for policy intervention
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a significant concern has arisen regarding the heat protection of numerous care facilities. According to Susanne Hille, head of the health, social services, education, and science department at ver.di NRW, stationary elderly care is particularly at risk during heatwaves due to a lack of structural heat protection.
The issue is part of a larger concern, as many facilities are not structurally prepared for heat. They lack shading elements, modern insulation, green outdoor areas, or climate-friendly cooling systems. The current "heat protection plans" are far from sufficient to address the issue of overheated buildings.
To address this, ver.di NRW is part of the "NRW must invest" alliance, demanding investments of 156 billion euros for NRW. The alliance aims to relieve municipalities, eliminate investment backlog, and future-proof social facilities.
The social economy, including elderly care, is a significant economic sector in NRW. However, politics often neglects investments and future viability in this sector. Employees in care, housekeeping, and support are physically burdened during heatwaves, and the elderly and vulnerable individuals are particularly affected by the heat.
To combat this, ver.di NRW advocates for a fundamental reform of the debt brake and sustainable financing models for municipalities. Heat protection is considered a necessity, not an extra, and is linked to human dignity.
In terms of structural measures for effective heat protection, general principles of climate adaptation in Germany and typical heat protection strategies for vulnerable populations suggest several critical steps. These include:
- Building design adapted to heat protection, such as improved insulation, reflective roofing materials, and shading elements like awnings or exterior blinds to reduce solar heat gain.
- Enhanced ventilation systems capable of promoting passive cooling and facilitating air exchange without causing drafts, potentially including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.
- Installation of cooling systems like air conditioning units or evaporative coolers tailored for care settings, taking into account energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
- Use of heat-resilient materials in floors, walls, and windows to reduce indoor temperature peaks.
- Green infrastructure integration, such as planting trees or green roofs around facility buildings to reduce heat islands and provide shading.
- Water supply systems designed to support hydration and cooling needs.
- Emergency power backup to ensure continuity of cooling and ventilation during outages.
While there are no direct search results specifically addressing these measures for elderly care facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia, these general adaptation frameworks and building adaptations for heat protection in vulnerable populations can be inferred as best practices.
For official regulations or technical guidelines tailored to North Rhine-Westphalia, consulting the state's health or building authorities or climate adaptation agencies would provide the most authoritative information. It is crucial to remember that encouraging drinking, moving heavy tasks to early morning hours, and hanging up wet sheets are not comprehensive solutions for overheated buildings without structural heat protection.
Investments today are believed to protect health, life, and the functionality of care facilities, while also relieving employees. Without structural measures, any heat protection plan is ineffective and becomes a farce. It is time for action to ensure the safety and well-being of our elderly population in North Rhine-Westphalia.
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