Department of Health

Emergency preparedness in residential aged care - extreme heat and heatwave

Key messages

  • Victorian residential aged care services (RACS) can use the Residential aged care services heatwave ready resource to plan and prepare for heatwaves.
  • All residents in RACS are potentially at risk of heat-related health impacts.
  • RACS should have strict protocols to avoid residents entering and exiting facilities unsupervised during heatwaves.
  • The resource also contains a checklist for services, and information templates for residents, carers, families and staff.

The department developed the Residential aged care services heatwave ready resource to help Victorian residential aged care services (RACS) plan and prepare for heatwaves. The resource provides information on heat health and older people. All residents in RACS are potentially at risk of heat-related health problems because they are usually over 65 years of age and are likely to have a complicating condition (such as a medical condition, a disability, poor mobility or dementia).

Residential aged care services heatwave ready resource
pdf 2.4 MB

Heatwave preparations should consider planned responses for:

  • minimising any avoidable adverse health effects of extreme heat and heatwave to residents, staff and visitors
  • managing a disruption to essential services, such as power, which can affect resident care if prolonged.

The resource advises RACS have strict protocols to manage residents entering and exiting facilities, to prevent unsupervised egress during extreme heat and heatwave events.

Information for services, residents, carers and families

The resource includes a checklist to help RACS prepare for hot summers, covering:

  • policies, procedures and protocols
  • resident care needs
  • staffing
  • environment
  • equipment, services and supplies.
Heatwave checklist for residential aged care
doc 363 KB

The resource also contains templates for residents, families and carers about:

  • ten common myths and misunderstandings about heatwaves
  • information for residents
  • information for carers and families.
Heatwave information for residential aged care - 10 common myths and misunderstandings
doc 53.5 KB
Heatwave information for residential aged care - information for residents
doc 42.5 KB
Heatwave information for residential aged care - information for carers and families
doc 45.5 KB

Reviewed 19 March 2024

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