They have already paid a heavy price for the Covid-19. Today, accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) will be confronted with the other bane of the elderly: heat. Météo France forecasts an increase in temperatures throughout France for the next ten days at least; and according to seasonal projections, summer promises to be hotter and drier than normal for a large part of France.

The regional health agencies (ARS), Santé publique France as well as the Ministry of Solidarity and Health have already published their recommendations for specialized establishments. There is nothing abnormal about the device: it has been in place annually since the heat wave of 2003 which left nearly 20,000 dead among the elderly, who have largely succumbed to the direct consequences of heat (dehydration and hyperthermia ). For a long time, the Ehpad have known the device by heart.

"We face high temperatures almost every year. The blue plan is triggered every year and the devices are more than honed," explains France 24 Joachim Tavares, who details the main preventive measures: "Regular hydration of residents, keeping appropriate clothing, better ventilation of the premises and shelter in cool areas, "he recites without hesitation. This former director of nursing home and care center for seniors, now at the head of PapyHappy, which guides the elderly on their choice of residence, has been confronted with the system for several years in a row. "We know that from the first heat, we must be more vigilant with residents."

Measures adapted to covid-19

But this year, the difficulties will be increased: the nursing homes will have to combine anti-covid management and anti-heat wave prevention. In the detailed roadmap of the Ministry of Health, notably relayed, one can read the very precise measures to be implemented.

If Covid-19 is suspected, for example, "the sick resident must stay in his room", he will not be able to benefit from an air conditioner "and he will not be able to benefit from an individual fan only under certain conditions. The bedroom door must remain closed "permanently" and the "trained" staff must "implement body cooling measures" while performing a "bio-cleaning of floors and surfaces daily while keeping the doors closed" .

A new challenge when you know that the Ehpad were very impacted by the health crisis linked to the coronavirus. According to Santé Publique France, 34,283 residents of institutions for the elderly were infected with Covid-19, and 10,488 died. On the personnel side, nearly 16,500 people were reached.

"It is not a heat stroke that scares us"

"The staff emerged from the crisis united but tired," testifies to France 24 Céline Olive, director of the Ehpad Korian in Chesnay, in the Yvelines. "The crisis was long and acute. We had the pain of losing five residents, so we have to bounce back with this baggage behind us."

However, the first heat is not too scary. The establishment she runs has already implemented the summer plan and adapted it without difficulty to the health recommendations related to the coronavirus. "We are an air-conditioned establishment with an open circuit, so all patients will be able to benefit from air conditioning even if we had a new case of covid", assures the director who specifies that they have "changed all filters and disinfected the circuits before it gets started ".

"Honestly, we know how to do it. And after the crisis that we went through, it is not the heat that scares the staff, or the residents! It is sure that wearing the mask in hot weather is uncomfortable. But we have And we are in a period of exit from the crisis, resumption of activities, return of families. It is this dynamic that prevails ", adds Céline Olive, who rather dreads a potential second wave of Covid-19.

A likely risk. On June 22, the thirteen members of the Scientific Council sent a note to the government to warn of the risks of a second epidemic wave in France, expected sooner or later. "We expect it", dreads Céline Olive. "But we are well prepared. There is feedback from the first wave. We have the stock of equipment (masks, gowns, hydroalcoholic gel), the barrier measures are still in place. We could easily switch back to a device crisis, "says the director. There remains a real fear: a new strict confinement. "For residents and staff alike, it would be far more daunting than a heat stroke."

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