Aging in the Heat

**Czech Republic’s Senior Care System Lacks Heat‑Response Measures**

*Prague, Czech Republic* – The Czech Republic’s aging population is increasingly vulnerable to the country’s rising temperatures, but the nation currently has no systematic plan to protect seniors during heatwaves.

During the late‑June heatwave that swept across Europe, temperatures in Prague regularly exceeded 35 °C (95 °F). The Czech Republic recorded record highs, and the week ending 28 June saw an estimated 14,260 excess heat‑related deaths across Europe, with more than 80 % of those deaths occurring among people aged 65 and older. In early July, temperatures again surpassed 40 °C, and a subsequent heat spell in late July and early August followed.

The country’s health ministry has acknowledged that it lacks a coordinated response system for seniors and other vulnerable groups during extreme heat. “Basically, when it’s hot, just help each other out; if you’re a senior and you’re sick, let someone know, but also, if you know of someone in that situation, report it,” said a spokesperson from the Czech Health Ministry’s public outreach office.

In contrast, France established a nationwide heat‑action plan after the 2003 heatwave. The plan requires municipalities to maintain voluntary registries of older and disabled residents and coordinates public‑health messaging and support measures as alert levels rise. The Czech Republic has no equivalent official heat‑action plan.

Dr. Helena Kazmarova, head of the Health and Environment Center at the State Institute of Public Health in Prague, said that assistance to seniors during heatwaves is currently not addressed in any special way. She noted that scientific studies have shown that better heat warning systems could reduce deaths among the elderly. “Services are not specifically organized in response to heatwave risks. Volunteers do visit seniors, but again, not in a way directly tied to heatwave alerts,” she said.

Kazmarova added that a strategy document aimed at reducing the health impacts of extreme heat is in development. The Health Ministry is drafting the plan in cooperation with other government agencies, but it is still in early stages and will require additional oversight and signatures before implementation.

The Czech Republic’s elderly‑care system is decentralized. The state acts as a regulator and primary funder, outsourcing day‑to‑day care to regional and local authorities and non‑profit organizations. Public authorities rarely run these services themselves, leaving the identification of those who need help largely to NGOs.

Jan František Krupa, national head of social services for the Salvation Army in the Czech Republic, said that the number of seniors is rising relative to the number of economically active people. “Finding resources to expand care for them – and supporting healthy demographic growth – must be a priority for any government,” he said.

The country’s aging population now outpaces the number of children, placing increasing pressure on health and social‑care systems as summers grow hotter each year. A future extreme heat event could leave isolated seniors without timely support, creating situations where preventable harm becomes collateral.

Jaroslav Benes, a 92‑year‑old Prague resident, described how the heatwaves affect his daily life. “When temperatures climb above 35 °C, my small apartment becomes an oven. The windows in both the bedroom and the kitchen face the same direction, so we can’t cross‑ventilate,” he said. He noted that fans can cause a cold afterward, and he worries about his future health and well‑being.

The article was written by Gracie Dykes, a public‑affairs student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who reported on the issue during a summer foreign‑reporting course in Prague.

Article and image source: tol.org