Older relatives and heat: risks and public cool places (refugios climáticos)

Terms used

• Refugios climáticos — Refugios climáticos are cool public spaces, such as libraries and civic centres, that councils open to the public during hot weather.
• Ayuntamiento — The ayuntamiento is the town or city council, which runs local services.
• AEMET — AEMET is Spain's national weather agency, which issues heat warnings.
• Servicios sociales — Servicios sociales is the local social services office, which assesses and arranges care and support services.
• Centro de salud — A centro de salud is the local public health centre where you see a family doctor.
• Teleasistencia — Teleasistencia is a pendant or home alarm linked to a 24-hour centre that sends help.
• Ayuda a domicilio — Ayuda a domicilio is a home-help service where a worker visits to help with daily tasks.
• Empadronados — Empadronados means registered on the municipal register (padrón) of the town where you live.

Key rules

• Emergency: Confusion, loss of consciousness or a very high temperature may mean heatstroke, so call 112 and cool the person while you wait.
• Shelters: Not every town has a formal climate shelter network, so check with the town or city council.
• Registration: Local services are usually for people registered in the municipality, so confirm your relative is empadronado.
• Heat warnings: AEMET warnings are the signal that shelters open or extend their hours.

Why older relatives are at higher risk

Older people are the highest-risk group in hot weather. This applies most to people aged 65 and over, and even more to those over 75 or living alone.

Their bodies cope less well with heat. They feel heat and thirst less, sweat less, and their heart and circulation adapt more slowly. Many also have chronic illnesses or take medicines that affect hydration or body temperature. Living alone with limited mobility makes it harder to cool down or ask for help.

Warning signs to watch for

• Intense thirst and a dry mouth
• Headache, dizziness, weakness or cramps
• Nausea or vomiting
• Very hot, dry or red skin
• A fast pulse and very little urine
• A high body temperature, above about 39°C
• Confusion or fainting

If your relative is confused, loses consciousness or has a very high temperature, it may be heatstroke. Call 112 immediately. While you wait, cool the person down.

Public cool places: refugios climáticos

Many Spanish cities run refugios climáticos. These are cool public spaces, usually in libraries, civic centres, museums, municipal buildings, schools and parks. Municipal pools are also useful in hot weather.

Barcelona has the best-known network, with over 300 spaces. Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Málaga, Murcia, Palma, Córdoba, Granada and Vitoria-Gasteiz also have networks or cool spaces in the heat season, as do many other towns. Not every town has a formal network, and sites, size and opening hours change from year to year.

How to find them

Start with the website of the ayuntamiento (the town or city council). Many have an interactive map of cool places. You can also:

• Call the 010 information line, or the local equivalent.
• Ask at the servicios sociales office or the centro de salud.
• Follow the council's social media during heat alerts.
• Check your region's heat-alert app or map, if it has one.

Watch for AEMET heat warnings. Shelters often open, or extend their hours and open at weekends, when a warning is issued.

Help at home for relatives who live alone

Councils and regions add heat measures to services that already exist:

• Teleasistencia is a pendant or home alarm linked to a 24-hour centre. Some places add calls during heatwaves.
• Phone-check programmes for people living alone.
• Ayuda a domicilio, which means home-help visits.
• Day centres open for longer hours, and volunteer visits.

To join, ask servicios sociales or the centro de salud for an assessment. Eligibility, cost and waiting times depend on the region and your relative's circumstances. The services are usually for people registered in the municipality (empadronados), so check that first. Health centres in some regions also keep track of high-risk patients in heat plans.

The checklist and questions below go through these steps.

Checklist

• Check whether your relative's town or city runs climate shelters (refugios climáticos) on the council website.

• Find the nearest shelter, library, civic centre or municipal pool on the council's map of cool places, or by calling the 010 information line or the local equivalent.

• Ask the health centre or social services office whether your relative's area has shelters or cool spaces open during heat alerts.

• Watch for heat warnings from the national weather agency (AEMET), because shelters open and extend their hours when they are issued.

• Ask the local social services office (servicios sociales) or health centre for an assessment for teleasistencia, a pendant or home alarm linked to a 24-hour centre.

• Ask social services about phone checks, home help (ayuda a domicilio), day centres and volunteer visits if your relative lives alone.

• Confirm that your relative is registered (empadronado) in the municipality, because the services are usually for registered residents.

Frequently asked questions

Does every Spanish town have a climate shelter?

No, not every town has a formal network of climate shelters (refugios climáticos). Barcelona has the best-known one, with over 300 spaces, and cities such as Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza and Bilbao have networks or cool spaces in the heat season. If your town has none, ask the town hall which library, civic centre or municipal pool stays cool.

How can I find out when the shelters open?

Shelters usually open when the national weather agency (AEMET) issues a heat warning. Many extend their hours or open on weekends during heat episodes. Check the council website or call the 010 information line, or the local equivalent, for the current hours.

Can an older relative who lives alone get regular check-in calls during a heatwave?

Yes, many councils and regions offer phone checks, but you usually need to request an assessment first. Ask the local social services office (servicios sociales) or the health centre (centro de salud). Eligibility, cost and waiting times depend on the region and the person's circumstances, and the person usually needs to be registered in that municipality.

What is teleasistencia and does it help in a heatwave?

Teleasistencia is a pendant or home alarm linked to a 24-hour centre, and it is the main heat-season support for older people living alone. Some places add proactive calls during heatwaves. Apply through social services or the health centre.