On the International Day of Older Persons, the Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care, and Addiction Policy, together with the National Climate Resilience Council (NCRC), the Department of Elderly Affairs (Directie Ouderenzaken – DOZ), and the Department of Public Health (Directie Volksgezondheid – DVG), officially introduced the Heat Management Policy for care homes. The International Day of Older Persons is commemorated every year on October 1st and highlights the well-being, dignity, and participation of older adults in society.
The Heat Management Policy aims to prevent the negative health and well-being impacts of heat on elderly residents and to help care homes prepare and take timely action during periods of intense heat.
Older adults are more vulnerable to the effects of heat. As people age, the body regulates temperature less efficiently, while chronic conditions and the use of certain medications can increase the risk of health complications. For this reason, prevention and timely intervention are essential.
The Heat Management Policy is the result of collaboration among DOZ, DVG, the Meteorological Department of Aruba (DMA), NCRC, the International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC), the Impact Blue Foundation, and Climate Adaptation Services (CAS).
As part of the policy, care homes will receive weather stations to monitor temperature and humidity. Funded by the IPDC, these stations will be provided to the institutions free of charge, while the generated data will be shared directly with the DMA.
When the heat index indicates that it will reach or exceed the designated threshold for several consecutive days, the DMA and DOZ will issue a warning to care homes so that the Heat Protocol can be activated.
To support care personnel, informative materials have been developed outlining signs of heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, alongside practical guidelines to identify risks and act promptly.
For the Minister, the Heat Management Policy marks an important step toward further strengthening prevention and quality of care, placing the health, safety, and dignity of older adults at the center.
The Heat Management Policy is initially aimed at care homes for the elderly. The intention is to expand the policy in the future to include other locations and public areas frequented by older adults.
With this policy, the Government and its partners are establishing a more structured framework to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our elderly population.