January 2026

Below is some useful information, provided by MidCoast Council, regarding the effects of heat on older people,

With rising temperatures, summer is a time of higher heat-related risk for older people. For aged care providers and workers, now is the time to prepare for the heat, and take steps to stop heat-related illness.  Heat causes more people to die each year in Australia than any other natural hazard. When heatwaves occur, the death toll routinely reaches into the hundreds.  

People over 65 are at highest risk from the heat 

Older people’s bodies don’t cope with sudden stresses as quickly or as well as younger people’s bodies. For example, an older person’s skin doesn’t sweat and cool the body down as efficiently as a younger person’s does.  Heat-related illness can get worse very quickly in older people. This can lead to rapid clinical deterioration (a fast decline in their health) and even death. That’s why it’s important to recognise and respond to heat-related illness in older people early and urgently.  Look out for these signs: 

• a sudden rise in body temperature
• confusion or altered mental state
• seizures 
• nausea and vomiting 
• loss of consciousness 
• a weak, rapid pulse. 

If you see any of these signs it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate first aid to cool the person down and a call to emergency services.   Heat stress can also make existing health conditions worse. This includes conditions that are common in older people, such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. Many heat deaths are recorded as heart attacks. 

Other risk factors in the heat 

Older people are already more at risk of heat-related illness, but in particular those who: 

• are frail or have a low body mass – they can heat up more easily  have dementia – they may not plan well, remember to drink regularly or realise they’re getting hot 
• have difficulty staying hydrated – for example, people: 
  • with modified diets (including thickened fluids) 
  • on restricted fluids 
  • taking medications to reduce fluid retention 
• have mobility problems and other physical challenges – for example, people who can’t: 
  • move into the shade or a cooler space by themselves 
  • remove their own clothing or bedding layers when they feel hot. 

Know your environment and how the temperature changes 

Residential aged care providers need to know about environmental risks in their facilities' buildings such as: 

• indoor areas in care homes that can't be air conditioned or easily cooled 
• indoor areas where the sun shines through the glass 
• outdoor areas that change from shade to full sun during the day  
• outdoor areas that are hidden from view. 

Providers should ensure that residents are not left for prolonged periods in these areas where temperatures fluctuate over the day.  

Workers at residential aged care homes should always: 

• know and monitor the temperatures in different parts of the home and its outdoor areas  
• know where residents are at all times 
• make sure people are wearing suitable clothing for the conditions. 

Fluid intake and preventing dehydration 

Fluid intake and hydration are important because they help regulate body temperature, support organ function, maintain blood pressure and prevent dehydration. For an older person, their body may not signal thirst as effectively.  

When it’s warm, remind your workers to: 

• monitor vulnerable people and make sure they have enough fluids  
• encourage people to drink fluids more often 
• know the signs of dehydration, such as: 
  • dry mouth and tongue 
  • heat rash 
  • going to the toilet less often or having less heavy continence pads 
• urgently attend to older people who say they’re hot or thirsty, or who look like they are 
• offer people lukewarm (not cold) sponging or showering to help them cool down 
• remind people to wear sunscreen, hats and protective clothing if they could be in the sun and help them to do this 
• keep people out of the sun – particularly older people who might not want to come back inside when encouraged to do so.   

Providing home care in the heat: 

Home care providers face unique challenges compared to residential aged care homes when it comes to monitoring older people during heat, such as: 

• less frequent monitoring – home care workers may only visit once or a few times a day 
• limited environmental control – each older person’s home will be different and some may lack air conditioning or proper ventilation 
• reliance on the older person – they may forget to drink, close curtains or turn on cooling devices. 

This makes it harder for workers to monitor an older person and detect signs of dehydration or heat stress. 

Home care providers should: 

• have a heat action plan for each vulnerable person. This should include: 
  • strategies for reducing their exposure to extreme heat  
  • information about who to contact if they become unwell and need medical attention. 
• Make sure that the people you care for: 
  • spend as little time as possible outside during extreme heat events 
  • wear the right clothing for the conditions 
  • have access to enough fluids, such as water 
  • have cooling devices that work and are switched on. If they don’t have air conditioning, a fan blowing with a wet sheet or towel in front of it (not over it) can also work well. 
• Educate workers how to: 
  • recognise signs of heat-related illness 
  • respond in an emergency  
  • provide first aid for heat stress, dehydration and heat stroke. 

Home care providers must make sure people are clinically assessed, if there are any signs that their health is getting worse.  

If you’re concerned about an older person’s wellbeing in a heatwave, you should act.
Depending on how concerned you are, you should call: 

• a family member 
• the person’s general practitioner (GP) or another medical professional 
• emergency services (triple zero [000]). 
  

Dr. Mandy Callary
Chief Clinical Advisor