Heatwaves and older people: how to keep loved ones safe

Older people are more at risk in hot weather, so the most useful steps are to keep at least one room below 26C, offer drinks regularly through the day and night, and know that heatstroke is a 999 emergency. In England, UKHSA heat-health alerts at yellow, amber or red level warn when heat is likely to affect health.

At a glance

• Official guidance for care managers treats 26C as the key threshold, with a cool room or area that can be kept below it.
• Heat-health alerts run mainly from 1 June to 30 September in England, and can be issued outside that period.
• Electric fans help only when the air temperature is below 35C, and should not be pointed straight at people.
• Heat exhaustion should ease within 30 minutes of cooling and fluids; if it does not, call 999.
• Some common medicines can make heat harder to cope with, so ask a pharmacist or GP rather than stopping them.

Why are older people more at risk in hot weather?

The NHS names older people, especially those aged 65 and over, among those most at risk from heat. People with long-term conditions such as heart or breathing problems, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s or mobility problems are also at higher risk, as are people who live alone and may struggle to look after themselves.

Taking several medicines, or medicines that increase the effects of heat, adds to the risk. So does being unwell and already dehydrated, for example from diarrhoea or vomiting. The overlap is why a hot spell can tip someone who is usually coping into a crisis.

What do yellow, amber and red heat-health alerts mean?

UKHSA and the Met Office issue Heat-Health Alerts for England after a joint risk assessment. The alerts are coloured by how likely a health impact is and how big it could be. They are aimed mainly at health and social care professionals, but are freely available to the public, and you can register on GOV.UK to receive them by email.

The core alerting season is 1 June to 30 September, but heat outside that period can trigger an extraordinary alert. These arrangements are for England. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, check your own public health body or the Met Office for warnings.

How do you keep a home or room cool?

Guidance for care managers says high-risk people find it harder to cool down once temperatures go above 26C. At home, a thermometer in the room where someone spends most of the day makes the problem visible. Then:

• Keep windows, curtains, blinds and shutters closed while it is hotter outside than in, and open windows at night when it is cooler.
• Switch off lights and electrical equipment that are not needed.
• Avoid going out between 11am and 3pm, and plan activities for morning or evening.
• Use electric fans only when the air temperature is below 35C, because above that they can raise body temperature.
• Do not point fans directly at a person, and avoid blowing air from one person to another in shared spaces.

If a rented home is too hot and is affecting someone’s health, the NHS says to contact your local council’s environmental health team, which can inspect rented homes for excess heat.

How much should an older person drink in hot weather?

Official guidance does not set a fixed daily amount. It says to make sure people drink enough through the day and overnight, to help those who cannot drink unaided, and to aim for pale straw-coloured urine. Water, diluted squash and lower-fat milk are suggested, with fruit juice, smoothies and sugary drinks limited. The NHS advises avoiding alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks.

Cold, water-rich food helps too, such as fruit, salad and ice lollies. Warning signs of dehydration include passing urine less often, dizziness and light-headedness. Our guide to dehydration in older people covers the signs in more detail, and delirium and urinary infections explains why sudden confusion needs prompt medical advice.

Do medicines make heat more risky?

They can. UK guidance for care managers lists several medicine types that may increase the risk in hot weather, including anticholinergics, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, diuretics, antihypertensives and medicines that reduce kidney function. That list is for professionals to check against each person.

Do not stop or change a medicine on your own. Ask a pharmacist or the GP whether anything needs adjusting during very hot spells. Most medicines should also be stored below 25C, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and windowsills, and only kept in a fridge if the label says so. Our guide to medication support at home explains how carers can help.

What are the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke?

The NHS says someone with heat exhaustion should start to feel better within 30 minutes. If they are still unwell after 30 minutes of rest, cooling and fluids, treat it as possible heatstroke. Call 111 if heat exhaustion symptoms are hard to treat or you want advice.

What should care homes and home carers be doing?

Government action cards for providers set out what care homes and home care agencies should do at each alert level. For care homes, they include thermometers where people spend time, designated cool rooms kept below 26C, extra drinks and water-rich foods, regular temperature checks in resident areas at amber and red, and a review of staffing for increased care needs.

Home care providers are asked to monitor indoor temperatures, advise clients on keeping their homes cool, and check that vulnerable people have visits or phone calls arranged. Useful questions to ask a provider include:

• Is there a heat plan, and where is the cool room?
• How do staff record fluids for people who do not drink much?
• Who reviews medicines when the weather turns hot?
• For home care, will visits or calls increase during an amber or red alert?

Our guides to questions to ask when visiting a care home and questions to ask a care agency can help you raise this at a visit.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature is too hot for an older person indoors?

Official guidance treats 26C as the key point, because high-risk people find it hard to cool down above it. Keep at least one room below that, and use a thermometer to check where your relative actually sits during the day.

Should I use a fan for an elderly relative?

Fans can help when the air temperature is below 35C. Above that they can raise body temperature. Do not aim them directly at the person, and combine them with cool drinks, shade and cool water on the skin.

How do I tell heat exhaustion from heatstroke?

Heat exhaustion brings heavy sweating, pale clammy skin, dizziness and nausea, and usually eases within 30 minutes of cooling. Heatstroke brings hot skin that is not sweating, confusion, fast breathing or a seizure. It is a medical emergency, so call 999.

Can an elderly person overheat at night?

Yes. Guidance says to check room temperatures where higher-risk people sleep, and to make sure they can drink overnight. Open windows at night when it is cooler outside, and consider plastic mattress covers, which can trap heat.

Who should check on an older neighbour during a heatwave?

Anyone can. The NHS asks people to check on those at higher risk from the heat. A short visit or phone call to ask how they are, whether the home is cool and whether they have been drinking is enough to spot a problem.

Where to get help next

If hot weather has shown that a relative is struggling at home, see what to do when an elderly parent cannot cope at home and our guide to falls prevention, since dizziness raises fall risk. You can search for care near you or use the care cost calculator to see what extra support would cost.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Supporting vulnerable people before and during hot weather, social care managers
• GOV.UK: Heat-Health Alert action card for health and social care providers
• GOV.UK: Heat-Health Alerting system and action cards
• NHS: Heatwave, how to cope in hot weather
• NHS: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.