President of DRC advocates for improved infrastructure in nursing homes during harsh weather conditions
In the face of escalating heatwaves, the President of the German Red Cross (DRK), Gerda Hasselfeldt, has called for better equipment in nursing homes to safeguard the elderly from heat-related stress.
Hasselfeldt's concerns revolve around the human aspect of care, particularly in the context of nursing homes. She emphasised the importance of human companionship in care, stating that it can only be provided by humans. However, she also acknowledged that machines could potentially help relieve human workers physically.
The discussion on the role of intelligent machines in care work is a new aspect introduced by Hasselfeldt. She expressed skepticism about the role of such machines, stating that a robot will never replace human companionship, particularly in care for people with dementia.
The increasing demand for intensive care staff was highlighted by Hasselfeldt, who also pointed out the lack of energy-efficient renovations in nursing homes as a cause for concern. She hopes funds from the infrastructure special fund can be used to improve equipment in nursing homes.
Despite the call for better equipment, there is currently no explicit public information available about using the infrastructure special fund for improving heat protection equipment in nursing homes. The existing measures seem to focus on wider public awareness and localised initiatives rather than centrally funded infrastructural upgrades specifically targeting nursing homes.
As temperatures are predicted to reach near 40°C as early as July 2025, the federal Health Ministry has emphasised that state and local authorities bear responsibility for action and public information on heat safety, including for the elderly and those with health issues. Resources like hitzeservice.de offer guidance on protecting vulnerable populations during heatwaves.
In summary, the German Red Cross (DRK) is advocating for improvements to protect elderly people from heat-related stress. While Germany is responding to increasing heat risks with information campaigns and local initiatives to protect vulnerable populations such as nursing home residents, there is no explicit public information available about using the infrastructure special fund for improving heat protection equipment in nursing homes. Further targeted searches or official government statements would be necessary to confirm details on such funding and specific equipment improvements.
- In light of her concerns for aging individuals in nursing homes, Gerda Hasselfeldt, President of the German Red Cross (DRK), supports the allocation of funds from the infrastructure special fund towards vocational training programs that equip care workers with knowledge about climate-change and implementing energy-efficient methods in nursing homes.
- In addition to human companionship, Hasselfeldt advocates for vocational training to equip caregivers with skills in therapies-and-treatments, mental-health, and health-and-wellness, as they are crucial for comprehensive care for nursing home residents, especially those living with dementia.
- While acknowledging the potential benefits of machines in reducing physical workloads for human care workers, Hasselfeldt argues that vocational training in science fields, such as environmental-science and climate-change, could empower care employees to better manage nursing homes' energy consumption and address the challenges brought by escalating heatwaves.
- To help tackle the demands of intensive care staff and improve the quality of care for elderly individuals facing heat-related stress, Hasselfeldt suggests incorporating vocational training in conjunction with the provision of advanced equipment in nursing homes, as part of a comprehensive community policy focused on safeguarding the most vulnerable segments of society.
