Community Care

Staying hydrated during a heat wave: why hydration matters for vulnerable adults

The UK is currently experiencing high temperatures, and we’re expected to see a number of heatwaves over the coming weeks and months.

With this in mind, we’re sharing practical advice and explaining the importance of preventing dehydration in older adults and how to keep elderly people hydrated during a heatwave.

Why can heatwaves be dangerous?

For many, a heatwave is a chance to enjoy some much-needed sunshine, however for others, the warmer weather and extreme temperatures can be rather dangerous.

Whether someone is living with dementia, has a learning disability or a long-term health condition, or is more vulnerable due to age, extreme temperatures can be dangerous and staying hydrated is essential.

Staying hydrated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your health during hot weather. Water plays a vital role in ensuring the body is able to function properly and efficiently, supporting digestion and regulating body temperature.

During a heatwave, it’s easy to lose fluids through excessive sweating, making it easier to become dehydrated.

Even mild dehydration can cause a variety of symptoms, such as tiredness, headaches, dizziness and difficulty concentrating. This can then lead to low blood pressure, an increased heartbeat – making older people and those with health conditions particularly vulnerable.

Signs of dehydration

If you or a loved one are displaying any of these signs during warmer weather, then they may be dehydrated:

• Dizziness
• Feeling tired, weak or lethargic
• Headaches
• Confusion and forgetfulness
• Irritability or changes in behaviour
• Dark urine or going to the toilet less frequently
• Cold and clammy skin
• Rapid breathing or a fast heart rate
• Increased sleepiness

Elderly, vulnerable adults and the heat

Older people, or those living with health conditions may find it difficult to recognise when they are becoming dehydrated.

Reduced mobility or conditions such as dementia, can make it difficult for people to physically get themselves drinks and fluids, so it’s important that family members or community carers are regularly checking in to support this.

It can be easy to dismiss a change in behaviour or health as a result of old age or their ongoing conditions, so it’s important for these changes to be considered and assessed appropriately.

If left untreated, dehydration can increase the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, which can become serious is not treated and managed quickly and effectively.

Top tips for preventing dehydration

We should be aiming to prevent dehydration in older adults rather than treat it as and when it arises.

Here are hydration tips for older adults:

• Drink little and often, even if you don’t feel thirsty (water, squash, juice, or even hot drinks)
• Include foods with higher water content into meals and snacks, including melon, cucumber, tomatoes, oranges and yogurt
• Regularly check urine colour
• Stay indoors and keep indoor environments as cool as possible
• Wear lightweight clothing
• Avoid excessive alcohol

How carers can help during a heatwave

Whether you’re a family carer or a professional care or support worker, there are a few simple yet effective things you can do to reduce the risk of dehydration:

• Offer drinks regularly throughout the day
• Don’t wait for someone to ask for food or drink
• Monitor any changes in behaviour
• Look out for signs of confusion
• Help keep living spaces cool
• Check in more frequently
• Ensure drinks are left easily accessible for those with mobility or cognitive health problems – a water bottle close by, for example

FAQs:

How much should older or vulnerable adults drink during a heatwave?
– Fluid needs vary differently for each individual dependent on their health conditions and medication. However, it is important for them to drink regularly throughout the day to help prevent hydration.

Can tea and coffee help with hydration?
– Yes! Tea, coffee and other hot drinks contribute to your daily fluid intake, although water is the ideal choice during hot weather.

Why are older adults more at risk of dehydration?
– As we age, our senses tend to become less reliable, including feelings of thirst and hunger. Some health conditions and medications can also make dehydration more likely – whether this is through forgetfulness or mobility issues.

When to get help for dehydration?
– If the first signs and symptoms of dehydration don’t improve after increasing fluid intake or moving to a cool place and resting, then it is important to seek urgent medical attention.

Supporting vulnerable adults through hot weather

Staying hydrated during a heatwave is one of the simplest yet effective ways to protect older adults and vulnerable people.

Whether it’s checking in on an elderly neighbour, arranging more frequent visits to family members or seeking support from a trusted community care provider, taking simple steps to encourage regular hydration can make a huge difference.

It’s important that people are receiving an appropriate level of care and support to suit their needs.

Recognising the early signs of dehydration and acting quickly, the support workers at Radis Community Care can help older and vulnerable adults stay safe, healthy and comfortable throughout summer.

For more information on receiving professional care or support, please visit: www.radis.co.uk.

For International Nurses’ Day, we’d like to celebrate our Clinical Services Team!

Because of our Community Lead Nurses, Radis is able to care for even more people, with a variety of complex health and clinical needs. From chronic health conditions to life-changing injuries, our nurses help people to remain safe and looked after in their own homes, ensuring independence remains a priority.

Meet the team

Our Clinical Services Team is continuing to evolve, and is headed up by Lorna Regan as Head of Clinical Services.

Dani and Sammi are two of our hardworking and dedicated nurses, so let’s meet the team.

Dani

Dani is one of our dedicated Community Lead Nurses at Radis Community Care. And, for Dani, nursing has always been about people. Although she first studied biomedical science, she soon realised life in the lab wasn’t for her. When Dani’s mum was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, she said it truly showed her where she was meant to be, supporting people through some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives. That experience shaped the nurse she is today, someone who believes everyone deserves to feel safe, cared for, and never alone.

As a Community Lead Nurse, Dani’s focus revolves around advocating for her patients and making sure they receive the care they deserve. She works across every stage of a person’s journey, from hospital discharge to ongoing support at home and end-of-life care, ensuring every detail is centred around the individual.

Dani’s role includes clinical assessments, creating bespoke care plans, managing risks, and working closely with wider healthcare teams, but one of her favourite parts of the job is helping others grow. “I love training care staff and supporting them with new knowledge and skills, because good training equals good care for our patients.”

Dani is incredibly proud of the care teams she works alongside and the passion they all share for delivering outstanding care. For her, community nursing is about much more than clinical support, it’s about trust, kindness, and making people feel genuinely looked after. She believes great nursing starts with compassion, treating every person with the same care and respect you would want for your own family, and having the passion to speak up for those who need it most.

When asked what the most rewarding part of the job is, Dani said “The people we support, that’s it. Making them feel safe and happy. Even at the end of life, just being there so they know they are not alone.”

Sammi

Meet Sammi, another one of our amazing Community Lead Nurses here at Radis Community Care.

Sammi originally planned to become a midwife, but after being offered a place in adult nursing instead, she quickly discovered where her true passion was. After working in A&E, she moved into community care and found just how rewarding it is to support people in their own homes, where even the smallest actions can make the biggest difference.

As a Community Lead Nurse, no two days are the same. From completing clinical assessments and creating personalised care plans, to supporting staff training and working closely with multidisciplinary teams, Sammi helps make sure the people we support receive safe, high-quality care that truly meets their needs.

What Sammi loves most, is seeing the positive difference that care can make, whether that’s helping someone improve their quality of life, supporting recovery, or simply bringing comfort and reassurance during difficult times.

Community nursing is often much more complex than people realise. Sammi describes it as: “Not just basic care, it involves high-level clinical decision-making, risk management, and coordination across multiple services.” Behind the scenes, community nurses are constantly planning, problem-solving, safeguarding, and making important decisions to keep people safe and well, all while helping them stay comfortable in the place they know best, their home.

For Sammi, being a nurse means combining clinical knowledge with compassion, showing patience, communicating well, staying calm under pressure, and always treating people with dignity and respect.

The difference our nurses make – Darren’s Story

Darren was just 56 years old when he had a stroke, changing his life overnight. Once entirely independent, confident and sociable, Darren’s stroke meant he had to learn to live in a brand new way. The swelling in his brain was so significant, meaning the only option was to operate which was risky and life-threatening. But, after a successful surgery, Darren spent a lot of time in intensive care, followed by a neurological unit. Whilst Darren was improving, it was clear he was struggling to manage day to day life in such a setting.

With Darren’s newfound needs, it placed him in a unique position in terms of the care he required and the options available – which is when he found Radis Community Care.

At Darren’s age, it was decided that he was much too young for a nursing home, and the Radis nurse-led framework knew that Darren wouldn’t need 24 hour care on a long-term basis and he was improving in health as each day went by. For Darren, it was more than just recovery, but finding a way to gain independence and get his life back on track.

Thanks to Radis, Darren’s care has now reduced from a 24/7 care package to just 28.5 hours per week, with plans for this to reduce further in the next year. Darren is now also able to change his inner cannulas himself, and is back to being almost entirely independent – with a little one-to-one support.

The biggest change, though, is Darren’s confidence. Previously experiencing a lot of anxiety around his breathing due to a lack of consistent, competent support and limited multidisciplinary team collaboration around his equipment, he now feels safe – making the biggest difference of all.

None of this would have been possible without Radis Community Care’s Clinical Services Team.

Living with complex clinical needs, including a neurological injury, a PEG, tracheostomy and ongoing rehabilitation,  Darren requires a number of interventions to stay well and it was decided that these needs and their risks could be safely managed through the clinical team at Radis.

With such interventions being overseen by highly-trained nurses, any changes are identified early, acted on promptly and managed safely. This in turn, reduces the need for emergency services and preventing avoidable hospital admissions.

Today, Darren lives independently in extra care housing. With consistent, nurse-led tracheostomy care delivered in line with the ENT care plan, Darren is supported to live as independently as possible, maintaining mobility, structuring his own daily routine, socialising with friends, and planning ahead with confidence.

Since receiving Nurse-led Care from Radis, hospital admissions have been avoided, clinical risks are managed early and proactively and Darren’s confidence, independence and wellbeing have significantly improved, allowing him to pursue his hobbies again. Having previously worked as an IT Manager, Darren continues to work on his passions of technology and computers in the safety of his own home.

Watch our video to hear from Darren, his sister, and our Head of Clinical Services, Lorna.

The future of clinical services and nurse-led care

Our Clinical Services Team continue to be recognised for their incredible work and dedication and because of that, we’re pleased to announce that they have been shortlisted for the Stars of Social ‘Care Complex at Home’ 2026 award!

We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted and look forward to the awards evening!

National Apprenticeship Week is all about celebrating apprentices across the country and raising awareness of the different routes into further education and building a career.

Apprentices are people aged 16 and over with the opportunity to learn and continue their education whilst they work and earn money.

Figures for the 2024/25 academic year show apprenticeship starts were up by 4.1% compared to the previous academic year.

David Evans, our head of talent acquisition here at Radis Community Care explains the importance of providing opportunities for young people to learn and earn whilst they work.

“Apprenticeships are a fantastic offering, and it is no surprise that we’re seeing more people embark upon this route to continue their education.

“At Radis Community Care, we’re keen to ensure we have a number of apprenticeships on offer within the social care sector, including in finance, business support and human resources.”

This National Apprenticeship Week, we spoke to Emma Van der Berg, Finance Apprentice, who shared her experience of joining Radis and developing her skills within our Finance Team:

Why did you choose an apprenticeship with Radis?

I chose an apprenticeship with Radis because I felt that their values and vision to support vulnerable people to live independently is wonderful. I have also always enjoyed numbers and thought this apprenticeship would give me a good starting point for a career in finance.

What did you do before starting your apprenticeship?

Before joining Radis, I worked in hospitality and was initially nervous about working in an office environment for the first time! Thanks to the support of my team and managers, this transition has been positive and has helped me build my confidence.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day involves posting cash to clients’ accounts and contacting individuals by phone or email regarding payments. I also have time allocated to work on my college work/course-work and have the opportunity to learn from the wider Finance Team.

What’s the most interesting part of your role?

The most interesting part of my role is seeing and understanding how different departments work together to complete processes.

What skills have you learned so far?

I have learned about the daily finance processes. For example, how data moves from online banking into our internal financial systems.

How have your confidence or skills changed since starting?

I am more confident when communicating with new people, especially on the phone. Daily guidance and support from my manager and the credit control team have helped me grow my confidence, knowledge and skills.

Reflecting on her journey so far, Emma said she would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone looking to learn new skills or begin their career, as it has given her clearer direction for her future.

It can be both exciting and daunting to move into a new home, especially if you’re going to be living with people you haven’t met before and moving to a new town, which is exactly what Trevor, a person we support, recently experienced!

Relocating from Gloucester, Trevor moved into one of our services in Warwickshire this month to be closer to his family, and receive support from the team at Radis Community Care.

We understand there’s always a transition period, and that’s why it’s important for us to encourage the people we support to make their new house a home, chat about their hobbies and interests, support them with finding new clubs or communities to join in the local area, and encourage friendships.

When Trevor arrived, the people we support decided to surprise Trevor and throw him a welcome party. After living in his previous home for over 20 years, Trevor was thrilled to meet his new housemates, and was touched by their warm welcome.

Olivia and Heather were feeling creative and made Trevor some lovely welcome decorations. Olivia has fantastic computer skills and designed a welcome poster for Trevor with the use of AI and included pictures of his interests, which was proudly displayed for his arrival.

Olivia said “I wanted Trevor to feel welcome and make sure he knows this is his home now as well, it is not just our home. I know it can be difficult moving house and I just wanted to do something to make him feel welcome”.

Heather made a low-sugar cake for the welcome party for those who are trying to reduce their sugar intake, she said “I thought Trevor would like it, it’s scary coming to a new place so I thought a cake would be nice”.

With Trevor’s big move, he’s now much closer to his family and the Radis team have been able to arrange more visits and trips for Trevor to spend more time with his loved ones.

At Radis, we support individuals to live independently, explore interests and access the local community. We’re thrilled to have supported Trevor to visit the local snooker hall and bowling alley, and will continue to explore this passions.

To relax, Trevor’s enjoys watching Sky TV and having a cuppa! Everyone in the supported living service have their own mugs, and Trevor’s delighted to join the club with his brand-new Eddie Stobart mug!

Trevor said “I am really happy that I have moved closer to my family, and I’m enjoying living my new home with the support of Radis”.

Across all our services, support is about more than meeting everyday needs. It’s about getting to know the people we support, their hobbies, families, careers, what they like and dislike, and building meaningful relationships.

When Service Manager Sarah Brown joined the team at Heathcote House Extra Care Service in Brandon, Suffolk, she met a resident who felt instantly familiar. After introducing herself and talking to her, she realised it was Angela… her former manager from when she was 17 working at Centre Parcs. All these years later, their paths have crossed again in a very different setting.

Angela has experienced significant health challenges over the years, including several strokes, a kidney transplant, partial loss of sight, and is now a wheelchair user.

Reminiscing with Sarah, Angela spoke fondly of her time at Centre Parcs, about how she helped open the parks in Longleat and Nottinghamshire, and expressed how she wished to return to Centre Parcs for just one day.

Understanding how important this wish was, Sarah and the team at Heathcote House contacted Centre Parcs to explain Angela’s story, and they kindly gifted Angela four guest passes.

On 11th January 2026, Angela was supported by the Sarah, and Team Leaders Vicky Mayes and Sharon Wright, to help turn her dream into reality.

Throughout the day, Angela shared stories and memories, pointing out where restaurants once stood, old staff entrances, and the spot where singers used to perform. The group enjoyed lunch, explored the park together, and finished the day with dinner served by a robot, which made everyone smile. Finally, Angela and the team enjoyed the winter lights display.

The day at Centre Parcs brought back fond memories, and our team were able to support Angela so she could reconnect with a meaningful chapter in her life.

Experiences like this highlight what person-centred care truly means. By listening to individual wishes and providing the right support, people can continue to live fulfilling lives, maintain their independence, and create new memories… no matter the challenges they face.