Roast dinner off the menu as Kettering care home keeps cool

“We have a heatwave menu that we change, so it’s more water-rich foods,” Hall explained.

“It gives residents more opportunities to get fluids into their bodies. The ovens within Westhill are not on as much as they could be [during a heatwave].”

She said residents, many of whom were monitored closely, had visual observations “every couple of hours”, and staff were trained to spot symptoms including headaches, excess sweating and lethargy.

Grace, a resident at Westhill, said that despite overnight temperatures she had “slept really well” thanks to additional fans in her room.

“It’s hard for the staff… I’m lucky because I don’t have to move about”, she said.