BC Care Providers Association hopeful care homes are prepared for hot weather

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The BC Care Providers Association say it feels care homes have been better prepared this time around amid a possible heatwave.

CEO Terry Lake says they’ve been working with the homes to make sure they have a heat plan in place. But he says with climate change bringing on more extreme weather events, it’s time care homes are better equipped.

“Even in the Lower Mainland, where we didn’t think we would need air conditioning in nursing homes, I think now with climate change, that’s gonna be something that most nursing homes are going to need in the future.”

However, Lake says he’s hopeful things will be better than the heat dome we had last month because there’s been more awareness.

“I think there’s been more communication with care providers to make sure there are heat plans in place to make sure nursing homes have cooling areas for their residents if they don’t have air condition, so I do feel there’s far more awareness far more support this time around.”

In the last heatwave in late June to early July, 569 people died, according to B.C. Cheif Coroner Lisa Lapointe.

In her statement, she said 79 per cent were seniors, and the majority of the people dead were living alone in private homes with poor ventilation.

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Isobel Mckenzie, the province’s senior’s advocate, says, there are concerns for this weekend. While it may not be as hot as it was late last month, “we know that for some people, the ambient temperature in their house or their apartment will be very high this weekend and possibly as high as it was during the last major heatwave.”

“It is going to be really important to pay attention to get out of those hot environments if they are dangerously high. And to take the steps we need to take to keep our bodies cool. And that is a combination of cool fluids, but also cooling the body.”

Mckenzie adds seniors who have issues with lungs, kidney function or heart function have a harder time recognizing they are getting overheated.

“It can come up upon you quite quickly,” she says.

“It’s why it is so important to go and visit people as much as possible in person so that you can see how they’re functioning, make sure that they are drinking the cool fluids, take a sense of how hot the room is that they’re in, take a feel for how hot they are, and take those necessary actions to cool them down.”

If they’re showing signs of heatstroke — extreme fatigue — dizziness — vomiting — get them to an E.R. right away.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says B.C. has opened up more cooling centres and has rolled out job openings for paramedics and dispatchers.

On Saturday, in Vancouver, we’re expected to hit a high of 27, but on the humidex, it’ll feel like 34.