DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia adapts daily routines to protect residents from the worst of the heat

No effort is being spared in the prevention of dehydration among DomusVi residents

All over Spain this summer, and particularly during what has so far been a blistering month of August, most of us have been adapting our daily routines in order to avoid the worst of the heat and the dangers it brings, and needless to say the same kind of precautions have been implemented at the DomusVi residences for the elderly throughout the country.

At the time of writing the city of Murcia has been placed on official red alert for temperatures reaching up to 44ºC and of course it is well known that those of advanced age are particularly susceptible to the discomfort and medical implications of exposure to such conditions. For this reason various modifications have been adopted at the DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia residence and at the hundreds of others run by DomusVi throughout Spain.

- Ventilation: Unfortunately, it is necessary to keep doors and windows closed during the warmest part of the day in order to favour “natural cooling” when the thermometers drop later in the day. Special window-opening and closing timetables have been established.

- Hydration: Every effort us being made to increase the amount of water and fruit juice which residents consumer during day, including when they are involved in activities and therapy session. Liquids are available in all rooms.

- Nocturnal hydration: In some cases, higher priority is being given to liquid intake than to solids, and even in the case of the most independent residents it is being ensured that they always have a bottle of water to hand.

- Abundant liquids: Cold drinks are being offered throughout the day, mainly water but also juice, lemonade and even jelly. Visiting relatives are also supplied with jugs of cold water with slices of lemon or orange.

- Sunlight: Activities which involve exposure to the sun are being avoided in the heat of the day.

- Walks are being taken only in the shade and with care to ensure that the head is adequately protected, either by a hat or by a sunshade.

- Residents are being advised not to go outside in the heat of the day.

- Outdoor activities, such as excursions to the swimming pool, are being undertaken only at the coolest times of day.

- Diet: Very hot dishes and those which are not so easy to digest are being avoided.

- Air conditioning is programmed to the appropriate temperature as and when it is needed.

- Restrictions are in place on the number of people permitted in the warmest parts of the residence at any one time.

- Clothing: Light, loose garments are being favoured, especially in the case of those residents who dress themselves, to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible

A DomusVi statement confirms that “we have defined and applied a series of measures to combat the high temperatures, minimizing the risk for people who could suffer dehydration or other health problems caused by the heat. In addition, special attention is being given to the detection of possible symptoms of dehydration in order to provide a rapid response, as the care and well-being of our residents is our top priority”.