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Heatwaves in Family Care: Rising Temperatures, Rising Challenges

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IMC Krems Research Supports Family Carers and Live-in Care Workers

The current heatwaves provide compelling evidence of the extent to which climate change is already affecting people's health. Older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses and those requiring care are particularly vulnerable. However, those who support and care for these individuals on a daily basis are also increasingly exposed to the physical and mental strain caused by periods of extreme heat.
A research project conducted by IMC Krems has now identified practical solutions to help family carers and live-in care workers better prepare for these challenges.

A key finding of the project is that while family carers and live-in care workers recognise the health impacts of heat as the most tangible consequence of climate change, they rarely associate these risks directly with their day-to-day caregiving responsibilities. Under the right conditions, digital tools – such as purpose-built health apps – can help protect both carers and the people they care for.

 

Jette Lange, researcher and lecturer at IMC Krems, presents the findings of the research project on the impact of heatwaves on family carers and live-in care workers.

Strengthening Practical Knowledge Where It Matters Most

Based on 35 in-depth interviews with family carers and live-in care workers, as well as a nationwide Austrian survey involving 148 participants, the study found that both groups perceive heat as the most significant climate-related health risk. Other consequences of climate change – including air pollution, infectious diseases and mental health impacts – are far less frequently associated with health risks.
At the same time, many respondents reported difficulties in assessing the reliability of digital health information and translating it into practical action. Preventive measures for home-based care could include adapting meals to lighter summer diets, preparing cooling measures such as chilled soups, cold drinks and appropriate clothing, as well as making structural adjustments to the home environment, for example by shading or applying solar-control window film, adding indoor plants or preparing ice packs and ice cubes.

However, the research identified a clear awareness gap: despite understanding the health risks associated with extreme heat, these preventive measures are rarely implemented in advance. Instead, carers tend to respond reactively once a heatwave is already underway.

"Our findings show that family carers and care workers are already taking many appropriate measures. What is often missing is an understanding of how these actions fit into the broader relationship between climate change and health. This is precisely where our work begins: we aim to translate scientific evidence into practical guidance that provides immediate support and orientation in everyday care, particularly as heatwaves become more frequent and intense," says Prof. (FH) Jette Lange, PhD, Project Lead at IMC Krems.

Current Heatwave Highlights the Urgent Need for Research

As part of the project Climate Change and Health in the Context of Informal Care, an interdisciplinary research team worked closely with family carers and live-in care workers to develop a digital application specifically designed for everyday caregiving.
The app provides practical guidance on topics including adequate hydration, nutrition during hot weather, personal and indoor cooling, sleeping in high temperatures, and recognising the signs of heatstroke. Videos, quizzes and push notifications help users apply this knowledge in their daily routines. To ensure accessibility for as many care workers as possible, the app is available in several languages.

However, the app can only have a positive impact on health if it is proactively downloaded and used. This requires greater awareness of preventive behaviour during periods of extreme heat so that users recognise the app's relevance. At the same time, the application must be simple to use, trustworthy, engaging and firmly rooted in everyday caregiving practice. For live-in care workers in particular, content must be available in their native languages. To maximise both reach and impact, digital information of this kind should ideally be integrated into widely used platforms such as weather or public warning apps, enabling people to receive timely guidance before heatwaves occur.

Follow-up Project Focuses on Promoting Climate-Resilient Behaviour

The project's findings are now being incorporated into the follow-up initiative KreTra – (Climate-)Resilient Transformation in Informal Care. Working together with ÖSB Consulting GmbH and Resilienz Consult, the research team is developing strategies to strengthen awareness of climate-related health risks and to embed preventive measures into everyday care before heatwaves occur.
The project also collaborates with regional climate initiatives to develop effective ways of reaching and informing family carers and live-in care workers through existing climate and public health programmes.

The project Climate Change and Health in the Context of Informal Care ran from August 2023 to March 2026 and was funded by the Österreichischen Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft (FFG). The project was led by ÖSB Consulting GmbH, while app development was carried out by  peopleX, a subsidiary of the ÖSB Group. The Pflegegruppe and IG Pflege played a key role in engaging these otherwise hard-to-reach target groups, making a significant contribution to the project's success.
 

IMC Krems researchers Jette Lange and Jacqueline Ludwig.
Jette Lange bei der Präsentation der Ergebnisse des Projekts
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