Preparing Your Care Home for Summer: A Complete Guide

As the summer months approach, it’s important to ensure that those in your care are kept safe from extreme temperatures and scorching sunlight. Learn how to make your care home safer for the summer, as well as how Bettal can make you feel more comfortable with your care home procedures in this article.

Skin Protection

Prolonged direct sun exposure isn’t recommended for anyone, no matter their age. However, the precious hours of sunlight we manage in the UK should be taken advantage of. To enjoy it safely and fully, make sure any residents at your care home have applied sun protection to all exposed areas, including behind the ears and on the hands. Any unprotected spots should be covered with clothing instead, preventing direct sunlight from hitting them.

Make sure residents have adequate seating and water if they choose to spend time outside during the warmer months. You should also see to it that regular breaks are taken from the sun, to prevent painful skin damage.

Food Safety Measures

As the outside temperature begins to rise, so does that of any food that has been left out. Food safety is of the utmost importance, as without it the risk of food poisoning increases substantially. To ensure that all residents are as safe from food poisoning as possible, ensure that all chilled food is kept between 0℃ and 8℃, while all frozen food needs to be kept at 18℃ or below.

Monitor Hydration

With sweating accelerating the amount of water lost in the summer months, it’s important to ensure that water is continually readily accessible for all residents. Dehydration can be particularly dangerous for elderly persons, so you should remind them to drink on all relevant occasions, including mealtimes or after doing an activity.

Signs of dehydration include:

● Feeling thirsty

● Confusion

● Feeling dizzy

● A dry mouth, lips or tongue

● Sunken eyes

● Tiredness and fatigue

● Dark yellow urine

If you struggle to get a person in your care to drink adequate amounts of fluids, try encouraging them to eat foods with high water content as well, such as jelly and slices of melon.

Prevent Overheating

The changes in heat and temperature can be concerning for those who live in care homes, as it puts them at an increased risk of overheating. This state, otherwise known as hyperthermia, is a condition where a person may have one or more of the following symptoms:

● Fainting

● Confusion

● Dry and/or flushed skin

● A fast pulse

● Heat rash

● Convulsions

● High body temperatures

To prevent overheating, ensure that residents stay inside on especially hot days and wear loose-fitting clothing. Cool water and fans can also be employed to help a resident stay at a safe temperature.

Care Home Procedures with Bettal Quality Consultancy

If you’re concerned about how the weather is affecting residents of your care home, you shouldn’t need to worry about your policies and procedures for health and social care as well. At Bettal, we can help you ensure your documents are compliant with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) using our range of services. Visit our website or get in touch to find out more about us and what we do today.