- In summer, staff vacations and the risk of heat waves represent a difficult period for nursing homes.
- In times of coronavirus, after the carnage among residents, the fatigue of caregivers and fears about air conditioning, the peaks of heat awaken some fears.
- While the OECD has just pinned down France with its understaffing in helping the elderly, and the Ministry of Health is organizing a "Ségur" supposed to put all the problems on the table, representatives of the sector hope that the government will not forget the care of seniors in its recovery plan.
Sunglasses and sunscreen in the satchel or picnic bag. This Thursday, the thermometer will climb to 34 ° C in Paris, 35 in Lyon. A peak of heat even before the end of June which risks giving cold sweats to those who do not tolerate the heat wave.
In particular the residents of accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad), just unconfined, very weakened by the coronavirus and particularly sensitive to heat.
A heat wave in a unique context
The Ehpad, which since the dramatic heat wave of 2003 have passed through a number of heat peaks, are now run in. "If we have 35 ° C for three months, it will be complicated, but if it's a few heat peaks, the teams know how to cope," reassures Joachim Tavares, former director of Ehpad and founder of the company Papyhappy, who advises seniors or their families in the choice of their future accommodation. "Preparing for a heat wave has become routine," adds Romain Gizolme, director of the Association of Directors in the Service of the Elderly (AD-PA).
However, the difficulty this year, and the directives indicate, is that there could be restrictions on the use of air conditioning in the context of the epidemic. Indeed, in collective places, catering for example, often air-conditioned, air flows may increase the transmission of the virus. And the fan? No better, as this article from our colleague explains. "The directives state that the fan can be used in the bedroom as soon as the person is able to turn it off before someone comes in," explains Romain Gizolme. Suffice to say that many will have a hard time ... "
"These measures linked to the epidemic, legitimate, conflict with the devices to limit the risks in hot weather"
Third difficulty: "You have to ventilate the accommodation several times a day," he continues. However, what is recommended during heat episodes is the opposite, open windows at night and close during the day. These measures, linked to the epidemic, are legitimate and conflict with the devices to limit the risks in hot weather. "
Wearing a mask, which returns hot air and mist to the glasses at 35 ° C, promises to be a new challenge for caregivers. And for the residents, with whom it will be necessary to redouble their patience and pedagogy to encourage them to wear it. “We need to do more regular hydration rounds, offer residents water or other drinks if they don't like water, adapt their dress, Joachim Tavares list. When I was director of Ehpad, there were still residents who went out in down jackets with 35 ° C ... ”A new crisis situation during which vigilance will be required, especially since the elderly often lose the feeling of thirst. "And that they are neither in the habit of drinking between meals, nor of eating cold, a salad for example," he continues.
Exhausted staff
The other element of the equation is the immense fatigue accumulated by the staff. Who alerted two years ago about their degraded working conditions, the time of the toilet shortened, the listening prevented. Since then, they have been a little more wracked by the strikes at the end of 2019, then by the Covid and its procession of overtime and anxiety. As for residents, this lonely tunnel has also put them to the test. "These two months of confinement were extremely difficult for many to live with, so imagine for these elderly people confined almost four months!" "Recalls Romain Gizolme. They were locked up, far from their loved ones, saw comrades die and caregivers all the time masked…
Activities have been interrupted and are at risk of being suspended again in case of extreme heat. Of course, the gentle gym can be done early in the morning in the shade in a garden (when there is one). "But any outside exit will be limited, which is a little sad for the residents who have already lived these last months locked up." After the carnage of the coronavirus, a heat wave could therefore prove catastrophic in the Ehpad. "Every year, during a heat wave, 5,000 excess deaths on average among the elderly," explains the director of AD-PA. I do not see how it could decrease in a context which adds aggravating circumstances. "
Chronic understaffing
Especially since offering a glass of water or a damp cloth several times a day, "it's human time," he warns. The only way to cope is with more arms! "Difficult to obtain during summer vacation, knowing that chronic understaffing and lack of attractiveness do not help ..." We have a job that suffers from a negative image, regrets Joachim Tavares. And it is not easy to recruit people who are trained and available during the summer. »Even if it is already late to organize shifts,« it is now that it is played, press Romain Gizolme. It is necessary to reinforce these tired out teams and to allow recruitments to prevent the risks of heat wave in the Ehpad. The Minister of Economy announced a recovery plan of 100 billion. He must join the home help sector. "
For him, all the visionaries underline the urgency of the situation. "When we combine the Covid crisis, the arrival of heat, the Ségur de la Santé, the OECD report which points out the delay of France in this area, many elements should push the government to go into this meaning. "But Joachim Tavares wants to be optimistic:" the economic period is uncertain, maybe some, worried, will want to come to work among the nursing teams, cleaning, animation of Ehpad. Some students, volunteers during the health crisis, were able to discover the human side of these places, it will perhaps spark new vocations. "
The (positive) lessons from the crisis
This crisis, which forced us to move away physically, has allowed some families to reconnect thanks to digital tools. Ditto in Ehpad, even if smartphones are rare. "We have seen some families install Messenger or Facetime on their parents' cellphones so that they can chat with their grandchildren," illustrates Joachim Tavares. The crisis has made it possible to speed up the availability of technological tools, in particular tablets, calls on television, a digital postcard… ”
In the link with caregivers too, the crisis has shown the value of teleconsultations. Provided that you are accompanied or comfortable enough with digital technology to conduct a remote consultation on your own. And Joachim Tavares to imagine a future where technology will take more and more place in the Ehpad. "Seniors are sometimes suspicious of telemedicine, but they are convinced when they see that it works, that it relieves pressure on emergencies, that it saves them from going to the hospital where they can get a disease, the Covid or whatever. »Even if the screen cannot replace human contact. “I think there has been an awareness that we cannot leave our seniors alone. Maybe it will make families want to come and see their elderly parents more often. "
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- The elderly
- Weather forecast
- Society
- Heat wave
- Ehpad
- Senior
- Health