2023-08-23 08:55:18
In Lyon, subjected to an unprecedented heat wave, the elderly are placed under close surveillance, to avoid heatstroke with irreparable consequences. In the Marius-Bertrand residence, on the Croix-Rousse plateau, a caregiver is responsible for visiting the 90 residents of the accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people (Ehpad). Twice a day, the agent comes specially to offer water. “Older people lose the desire to drink, they don’t necessarily realize the effects of the heat. We absolutely have to encourage them.” explains Isabelle Thomas, director of the residence, which is one of the nineteen establishments for the elderly managed by the municipal center for social action (CCAS) of the municipality.
“The Water Tour” is one of the many measures taken at the start of the summer. “We put in place permanent vigilance, says Isabelle Thomas. In connection with their doctors, we draw up a list of the most vulnerable residents, who may be at risk of medical complications. All residents are monitored daily. We watch for clinical signs of dehydration, such as wrinkled skin, unusual behavior or a headache. »
The heat considerably changes the internal organization of the residence. Even with the windows and shutters closed, the rooms store heat. It is necessary to set up coordination between the day and night teams, to ventilate in the early morning, and to close the windows properly at the first rays of the sun. The temperature is checked daily on the floors.
Adapted menus
To fight against the heat wave, the director has created a refreshed room in the large living room on the ground floor. The air conditioning works there permanently, to ensure an ambient temperature of around 24°C to 25°C, while it climbs to more than 30°C in some rooms on the floors. Each resident is instructed to spend at least three hours in this room, to rest the body. If a patient has difficulty moving around, their room is ventilated accordingly. “It’s not always easy to dissuade a resident from going out in the middle of the afternoon, he has his freedom to move around. We have to argue well. Heat affects cognitive abilities,” testifies Florent Buisson, nurse.
Since the deadly heat wave of 2003, retirement homes have become accustomed to setting up parades to limit the heat in their premises, and above all to help residents adopt good behavior. The menus are also adapted, with more frequent fruit and yogurts.
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