Hot weather and health: exploring extreme heat in adult social care
Older adults and those with health conditions are at risk of mortality during heatwaves. The research explores the experience of those who care for them.
Applies to England
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Vulnerable groups, such as older adults and people with chronic health conditions, are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality during heatwaves. Drawing on the recent experience of the July 2022 heatwave in which the UK experienced record high temperatures and heightened risk to public health, it became important to identify experiences and learning to improve protection for highly vulnerable groups.
Research was needed to understand how healthcare and adult social care professionals approach heat risk awareness and recommendation of appropriate protective behaviours to supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave.
This evidence will inform the development of climate change adaptation interventions for the adult social care sector. The findings contribute to developing the evidence base concerning the impacts of climate change on public health and ultimately will help the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to protect the nation’s health from threats in the environment.