We asked some of our carers how to keep the person they look after comfortable during the heatwave. Here are their tips:

• Every hour offer a cold drink, cool shower, cold foods - such as salads
• Have a drinks dispenser filled with weak squash as a visual reminder. Make morning coffee, and afternoon tea - put structure in the day
• Open the windows and close the curtains/blinds
• Seedless grapes are a healthy source of fluid
• Put cold drinks in see-through containers (preferably not glass) so that it’s obvious that there is something in them and also so that you can easily keep an eye on the levels
• Keep water and a flavoured drink available at all times
• Try ice lollies for a different way to hydrate. Often brings back childhood memories too.
• I put a fan with my husband and dressed him in lighter clothes, also kept a few ice lollies or ice cream
• Play around with drinks temperature. Maybe he likes it ice cold but maybe he doesn't... experiment!
• My husband is housebound and has to wear tena pants all the while he wears pyjama bottoms for loose cool and ease of access