Recklinghauesn Heatwave Helpline

Background

The project ‘Heatwave Prevention for Older People Living Alone in Recklinghausen’ developed, piloted and evaluated a low-threshold support service for a particularly vulnerable and often socially isolated section of the population. The focus was on outreach support via telephone during heatwaves, provided by trained staff from the German Red Cross (DRK), with the aim of reducing health risks, preventing emergency hospital admissions and strengthening older people’s health literacy. The project was implemented in cooperation with the City of Recklinghausen, the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council and the DRK, and was funded by the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The interdisciplinary approach involved, amongst others, public health, social sciences, geriatrics, emergency services/disaster management, local government and health communication. The results show that telephone support not only improves people’s sense of security and their individual preparedness for heatwaves but also enables the early identification of support needs. Furthermore, it became clear that pharmacies and GP practices, in particular, should be more closely involved as low-threshold information and referral points for heat protection.

Objectives and research questions

The aim is to develop a long-term warning and support system based on the findings of the above-mentioned project, in the form of a telephone support service for older people during heatwaves. This support service is to be established and implemented initially on a purely voluntary basis.
The Institute for Work and Technology aims, through its support for local stakeholders, to ensure the sustainable and practical implementation of the findings from the ‘Heat Prevention for Older People’ project and to help ensure that these are embedded at a local level.

Approach and methods

Support for local stakeholders will be provided through consultancy services and knowledge transfer. In addition, the IAT will be responsible for setting up and operating an appropriate address management system in compliance with data protection regulations, and will assist in the search for a professional implementation partner.