Heat Aid for Care-Dependent Individuals in Saxony-Anhalt - BARMER Extends Assistance in Heat Protection
Magdeburg, May 30, 2025 - Germany faces escalating heat-related health risks, particularly for individuals in need of care. This starts from the elderly and those with chronic conditions, all the way to pregnant women, young children, and the socially isolated or care-dependent[1][3]. As heatwaves intensify, the strain on both affected individuals and their caregivers grows. In 2023, Saxony-Anhalt was home to over 204,000 people in need of care, according to the State Statistical Office[1].
To address this issue specifically, BARMER is offering a free online seminar on heat protection in care on June 3, 2025, from 2 to 3 PM. The seminar will provide practical recommendations for nutritional adjustments during hot weather and general tips for managing high temperatures in everyday care. The offer is aimed at all caregivers, including relatives, employees of home care services, and stationary facilities[1].
Axel Wiedemann, Managing Director of BARMER in Saxony-Anhalt, emphasizes the importance of taking heat warnings seriously and preparing specifically for heat situations, not only for the wellbeing of care recipients, but also for caregivers themselves[1].
Practical recommendations for handling heatwaves in care entail a focus on nutritional adjustments favoring hydration and light meals, environmental cooling measures, and adherence to newly established local and national heat protection standards[2][3][4]. These adjustments are intended to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be fatal if untreated[2].
Heat stress conditions may present symptoms like heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting for heat exhaustion, while heatstroke involves body temperatures exceeding 40°C, causing potential confusion, rapid heartbeat, and loss of consciousness[2].
Heat-related mortality among persons over 65 has significantly increased in recent decades, highlighting the urgent need for heat-adaptive care strategies[2]. Germany, particularly southern and eastern regions, faces increasing heatwave risks, with estimated summer temperature rises of approximately 2.5-3°C by mid-century[4].
Registration for the online seminar can be done at www.barmer.de/a009461.
References:
[1] German State Statistical Office
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
[3] German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
[4] German Weather Service (DWD)
- To support caregivers in handling the growing heat-related health risks, particularly for the elderly and those with chronic conditions, BARMER is offering a free online seminar on heat protection in care on June 3, 2025.
- The seminar, aimed at all caregivers, will provide practical recommendations on nutritional adjustments for a healthier approach to managing high temperatures, as well as general tips for care in heatwaves.
- Axel Wiedemann, Managing Director of BARMER in Saxony-Anhalt, stresses the importance of taking heat warnings seriously and preparing specifically for heat situations, not only for care recipients' wellbeing but also for caregivers' own health and safety.
- In light of the increasing heatwave risks, particularly in southern and eastern Germany, and the rise in heat-related mortality among older adults, there is an urgent need for heat-adaptive care strategies to be implemented in various areas of society, such as health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and business, including careers in health care services and related finance sectors.
