Home temperatures of older people in UK reaching “unsafe temperatures” throughout the summer
Data from home care technology provider Lilli has revealed that homes of older people in the UK are reaching unsafe temperatures throughout summer, with peaks of 40 degrees in London during the heatwave.
Lilli, which provides lifestyle monitoring technology for the home, has revealed that 81 per cent of homes with elderly, ill or disabled people have had days above the recommended 26 degrees celsius, with many (10%) having prolonged periods of 3 days or more above 32 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperatures recorded across the heatwave so far have been 40 degrees on numerous days in London – which can pose a significant health risk.
In the UK, health experts recommend keeping indoor temperatures between 21-26°C where possible, and always below 32°C[1]. Rooms above 26°C during the day require active cooling measures.
Above these thresholds, the risk of heat-related illness rises significantly for older people and people with long-term health conditions. Risks include dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and worsening of underlying conditions which can often result in hospital admissions.[2] As older people tend to sweat less, they are more prone to overheating faster without noticing.
Lilli works by using discreet sensors and AI to track patterns of behaviour and key indicators of health and wellbeing, such as movement, eating and drinking, bathroom activity, sleep and home temperature, to understand someone’s routine and home environment, and alerting carers and families to any risks through an app.
This helps the people who support them to understand if they need any extra help, while being on the front foot to proactively spot health potential risks – for instance if someone is moving or eating less, having disrupted sleep or their home is at an unsafe temperature. It is used to stay in the loop between visits and get a holistic, real-time picture of how someone is managing.
By having Lilli in place, carers and families have been able to spot early warning signs of UTIs before they became serious, identify signs of a blocked bowel to get early treatment, and quickly learn a loved one had become unwell due to the home temperature and lack of mobility picked up through the app.
As the 10 year health plan seeks to deliver more preventative care, technologies like Lilli are being adopted more widely across the UK to support early interventions and care at home.
A number of pioneering local authorities and home care providers across the UK including Gwynedd and Medway councils have used Lilli to support people to live in their own homes for longer, and help prevent or delay residential care admissions.
Jonathan Hanbury, specialist clinical nurse in dementia and Founder of The Ness Care Group, comments: “Home monitoring technology can help carers and families move towards a more proactive and preventative way of providing care and support.
“In particular, the round-the-clock environmental data it provides can help frail individuals to safely maintain independence at home, while those that care for them will know if there are any risks to be aware of – such as reduced mobility, poor sleep or hydration.
“Importantly, collecting long term data around the house using monitoring systems like Lilli allows specialists like us to proactively prevent physical and mental deterioration and improve overall quality of life.”
Heilene Mission, Occupational Therapist at Lilli, adds: “At Lilli, our mission is to support independent living and enable proactive, person-centred care. A home environment shapes a person’s safety, function, and confidence and temperature serves as one of the clearest indicators of these factors.
“In winter and the height of summer in particular, temperature speaks directly to how safe and comfortable an older person is within their home.”
“As we move toward a neighbourhood health model focused on delivering preventative, holistic care rather than reacting to crises, we hope home monitoring technologies become standard practice. This insight allows families and professionals to identify risks early, support long-term independence, and reduce avoidable pressure on health and care services.”
Earlier this year, Lilli announced a partnership with techUK, a trade association supporting the growth of the UK tech sector.
