(Translated and adapted from this text by Rotterdam UAS)
HOPE – Responding to Heatwaves in the Older People Ecosystem
Climate change leads to an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves. The Erasmus+ Cooperation partnership project HOPE (Responding to Heatwaves in the Older People Ecosystem) will put the severe health threats of heatwaves on the agenda of the public organisations and healthcare practitioners that are involved in elderly care. The project is built on a vision for an inclusive approach for the whole eldery healthcare ecosystem. The consortium is led by the Municipality of Rotterdam, and consists of partners from the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Portugal and France that join forces to work on different deliverables that contribute to the project objectives.
Improving heatwave protocols
Periods of extreme heat have become tangible all over Europe. Meanwhile, knowledge on (the prevention of) negative consequences of extreme heat on health of elderly people is not widely known. All municipalities in the Nethelrands utilise a local Heatwave Plan, based on the Dutch National Heatwave Plan that was established by the National Institute for Health and the Environment (RIVM) in 2007. The National Heatwave Plan alerts organisations, professionals and volunteers that are involved in care for elderly people and chronically ill people, in case an extended period of exceptional heat is approaching. This allows them to take suitable measure to take care of people during heatwaves and limit negative health consequences. Each health care providing organisation in turn has a heat protocol listing heat precautions for their staff.
Project activities
The project HOPE aims to foster knowledge exchange between European countries on this area. This, in combination with literature research will be used to develop learning tools such as e-modules and MOOCS, as well as policy recommendations. The research deliverable are coordinated by Rotterdam UAS’ Research Centre Innovation in Care. Besides research staff, students of Rotterdam UAS in the field of built environment and health care are involved in the project through internships, applied research projects, and pilots. The project is built on a vision for an inclusive approach for the whole eldery healthcare ecosystem, which means that elderly people receiving care are an indispensable group directly involved in the project. The goal is to equip students, elderly people, caregivers, well-being professionals and health care practitioners with the right tools to adapt to the needs of elderly people during heatwaves and thereby reduce health risks.
