Nursing home residents evacuated in North Rhine-Westphalia as indoor temperatures reach 35°C during Germany heatwave

Two nursing homes in crisis

On Friday evening, staff at a Krefeld nursing home called emergency services after several residents collapsed from heat stress. Attic floor temperatures there were recorded between 34°C and 50°C. Five people were hospitalised and nearly 40 were relocated to cooler floors. In Dormagen, around 160 residents endured indoor temperatures of 35°C overnight. One resident died; whether the heat was causative remains undetermined, a city spokesperson said. Firefighters began a large-scale medical response at 7 a.m. Saturday, moving vulnerable residents to lower floors, setting up mobile air-conditioning units in the cafeteria, and preparing up to ten people for care outside the building.

“Anyone who needs medical attention, we’re bringing out.”

Heatwave nationwide

The German Weather Service (DWD) warns that Saturday could bring maximums of 41°C nationally, with locally 42°C not ruled out. Relief is not expected until the start of the new week.

Patient advocates demand investment

Patientenschutz Foundation chair Eugen Brysch said the events show Germany’s roughly 800,000 nursing home residents are repeatedly left to suffer in extreme temperatures. He called on federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) and Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) to commit more money before the end of the year for climate adaptation in care facilities.

“Existing buildings must finally be adapted to climatic conditions.”

Brysch wants a binding rule that new care homes must not exceed 25°C indoors.