Baffled

[sunny-dave]

Was watching the News last night (Sky and BBC) and both featured pictures of Care Homes with vulnerable elderly people wilting/suffering in the heat - with just some fans moving the air around - to no great effect.

Why are the owners not buying a couple of portable aircon units and keeping at least one lounge area cool?

It’s not ‘availability’ - I sourced a unit yesterday and it arrived by 8:30am this morning - on test now before I install it properly later.

It shouldn’t be cost - I paid just over £450 for a commercial grade unit - two would be enough for a decent sized care home lounge - for well under the amount that a single resident pays per week.

It’s not running costs (less than 10p an hour per unit)

So why are vulnerable people being left to suffer?

[Patsy33]

Profits?

[sunny-dave]

If so that is beyond disgusting

[Sqad]

Two would cost just under £1,000 and the heat wave may last another 4or 5 days and next year there may well not be a heat wave.
so what do we do with the A/C unit?

Don't under estimate the efficiency of ceiling fans and portable fans.

[sunny-dave]

That’s true sqad - but this heatwave has been going for 6 weeks now, with another two to come - I’m waiting for the ‘thousands of extra deaths’ statistics to start being published.

Spath - that’s an expensive toy - not a proper aircon unit

[Patsy33]

I know Dave, but unfortunately, I think this is true in most cases.

[sunny-dave]

I tend to think it’s lack of knowledge/initiative by local managers - they’ll buy 20 fans at £25 a pop, but not a proper chiller at £450 which would actually do a better job

[sunny-dave]

If I had an elderly relative in care, I’d have had a real aircon unit in their room weeks ago - at my own cost if need be - not just a fan to recirculate the warm air.

[Barmaid]

At the beginning of this heatwave, I visited my elderly grandparents for a small party. He was wearing a vest a shirt and a cardigan; she was wearing a bra, a vest, a shirt and a cardigan. We had to practically wrestle their cardies off them as we all wilted.

I do take your point, but I also take the view that the elderly are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for.

Having said that, yes there will definitely be a spike in the death rate. I've worked with probate for 25 years and a harsh winter or mini heatwave will do this.

[hereIam]

I feel so very sorry for the elderly and frail in this terrible heat. I have been to town shopping today and I was struggling to breath, had to keep sitting down and drinking cold drinks, never more glad to get back home. Wish it would end. Care homes are horrid places, everyone's nightmare is to end up in one I guess, it's certainly mine.

[DarceyK123]

I agree these Care Homes should definitely be doing something but, to them, it might not be as cheap as for you and me.

They may have to buy stuff from approved places, it's ridiculous I know but my office buys things like waste bins for £45 a go. When we point out they could get them much cheaper for X, they say they are not allowed!!

Having said that, the money they charge these residents would soon pay for it.

Spath, my husband had a minor operation in a BUPA hospital, only a day patient but had one of those Dyson fans, was great, we have one at home now.

[dunnitall]

I can't imagine what the elderly suffer at times like this in a care home. We have all windows and doors open and for two days indoor temps are 32 deg C. We have been here over 30 yrs ...had hot summers but never with temps like this indoors. I tried .. Too late... To get air con unit so sweltering here with just fans... So I pity the residents of any place who can't get the cool air they need....poor souls.

[Barmaid]

dunnitall if you keep windows, doors and curtains closed you'll keep cooler!

[dunnitall]

Barmaid tried it, can't hack it..... We need thru draught it's unbearable otherwise. Tried ALL the tricks over 30 years believe me. We face south back elevation.... So in winter it's north south divide front and back and summer... usually cooler front but this one is different....melting here....beam me up snotty. Never had temps like it.... Thanks though.... I need the North Pole or similar climes... ATM x