A hot day can change an ordinary routine. You might want to go out earlier, move an activity indoors or check what happens if a visit or the power supply is disrupted.
Talking through the plan beforehand gives you and the people supporting you something clear to follow. Start with what you need to keep happening, rather than a long list of things to worry about.
Think about the support you rely on
Which visits or tasks are essential? Do you need assistance communicating, travelling or using equipment? Who should know if an arrangement changes?
Include your own preferences and the people you want involved. The NDIA’s emergency preparation information links to person-centred planning resources that can help with this conversation.
A written plan should be somewhere you and the people who need it can access. A provider’s general emergency procedure may still need details specific to your home and support.
Choose a cooler option
Before hot weather, consider where you would be comfortable spending time. That could involve preparing a cool room at home or confirming another suitable place if home becomes too hot.
Check transport, opening hours, access and the assistance needed before relying on another location. An outing that suits a mild day may need a different time or route in the heat.
SA SES heatwave advice includes preparing ahead, avoiding the hottest part of the day and checking on people at risk. Use its current advice and warnings when making plans.
Ask about your own health needs
Heat affects people differently. Ask your health professional or pharmacist about any needs linked to your health, medication or equipment.
Follow the instructions that apply to you. Don’t change medication doses or use a general fluid target from a website in place of individual advice. SA Health’s Healthy in the Heat information is a useful starting point for those questions.
Include a power or travel disruption
Agree who checks in, how you will communicate and what happens if a worker cannot reach you. Keep phones charged where possible and consider how essential equipment is managed if power is unavailable.
Equipment-dependent support needs a plan made with the relevant professionals and services. Don’t assume a support provider can supply emergency power or guarantee attendance during a wider disruption.
Keep five answers handy
Write down who will check in, which assistance must continue, who to call if a visit changes, where you could go if home is too hot and where the agreed plan is kept.
Review those answers when your needs, contacts or support arrangements change. Follow emergency services’ advice and call 000 in a life-threatening emergency.
If Vana Care provides your support, contact the team to discuss the arrangements for your agreed visits. A routine online enquiry is not monitored as an emergency response service.
