13th August 2026

Community nurses urge neighbours to check in on each other

According to Your Healthcare’s community nursing teams, during times of extreme heat the most important intervention often isn’t a medical one; it’s simply knocking on someone’s door and asking, “Have you had a drink today?”.

Heatwaves are more than just uncomfortable, they can be dangerous for vulnerable members of the community. Offering regular drinks, encouraging small meals, keeping homes cool and recognising early warning signs can prevent hospital admissions and help people stay safe at home. Emily Heritage, district nurse and palliative care, frailty and dementia lead at Your Healthcare, explains: “We often see the effects of hot weather before families and neighbours realise how serious it can be. Dehydration, infections, confusion and falls all become more common, and for someone who is already frail, even a few hot days can have a significant impact.”

Why are older people more at risk?

As we age, our bodies become less efficient at regulating temperature. Older people often don’t feel thirsty until they are already dehydrated, and many live with conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease or dementia that increase their risk. Some medications can also make people more susceptible to dehydration or heat illness, including diuretics (“water tablets”), laxatives and some blood pressure medications. Those living alone may simply not notice they are becoming unwell until symptoms are severe.

Early signs of dehydration

• Feeling unusually tired or sleepy, increased confusion or forgetfulness
• Dizziness when standing, headaches
• Dry mouth or cracked lips
• Passing small amounts of dark urine
• Loss of appetite; muscle cramps
• Becoming unsteady or having falls

It’s not just about drinking water

While fluids are important, eating is just as essential. Many older people lose their appetite during hot weather because they don’t feel like cooking or eating large meals. Foods with a high-water content can make a real difference.

Encourage:

• Little and often meals
• Yoghurts
• Fruit such as melon, grapes and strawberries
• Ice lollies and jelly
• Smoothies
• Soups served lukewarm if preferred

Most adults should aim for around six to eight drinks(approximately 1.5-2 litres) each day, but they may need more during very hot weather unless they have been advised to restrict fluids by their doctor because of conditions such as heart failure or kidney disease. Community nurses advise not to wait until someone says they are thirsty – offer drinks regularly throughout the day.

Keeping the home cool

Many vulnerable people become unwell because their homes remain hot long into the evening. Try to:

• Keep curtains or blinds closed during the day.
• Open windows early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Move to the coolest room in the house
• Use a fan (ice placed in front of a fan can make the air feel cooler)
• Use cool damp flannels on the neck, wrists and forehead.

In an emergency

If someone suddenly becomes very confused, stops passing urine, is difficult to wake, develops a very high temperature, has shortness of breath or fast breathing, a fast heartbeat and appears severely unwell, seek urgent medical advice by contacting 999.