‘Extreme’ summer heat had ‘enormous impact’ on isle’s older people and winter will be ‘as tough’ warns Age UK Thanet 

By Anna Patton

The CEO of Age UK Thanet says this summer’s extreme temperatures “without a shadow of a doubt” brought more risks to the older and vulnerable people they work with.

Vanessa Wood, who heads up the charity which provides services for people aged 55 and over, says they have seen a notable increase of clients being admitted to hospital in recent months, often resulting in patients requiring social care, moving into residential homes, or “sadly, passing away”.

This week the Met Office announced 2026 officially saw the UK’s hottest summer on record, and the UK Health Security Agency estimates there were 2,877 heat-associated deaths during  May and June 2026 – almost double the 1,504 excess deaths in summer 2025.

While hot weather has always brought risks for old and vulnerable people, Vanessa (pictured) said this summer has “without a shadow of a doubt” been more severe than before, with persistent high temperatures making some clients “very ill”.

Housebound people are especially vulnerable. On one recent visit to deliver a meal and check on a client’s wellbeing, Age UK staff found the person had collapsed with heat exhaustion. “They’d been there for five days… lying on the floor with no food and no water,” Vanessa said, adding that the person had survived thanks to her team’s intervention.

Dehydration risk

Sandra Muirhead, a nurse and executive director at Thanet Health CIC, which provides a home visit service on behalf of the NHS, said their callouts did not appear to have increased this summer, although elderly patients have reported struggling in the heat.

Dehydration is the main concern in hot weather, she added. Older people tend not to drink enough water year-round, and conditions such as dementia make it harder to notice heat or thirst. Respiratory, heart and kidney problems can be worsened by heat and dehydration.

Vanessa is also concerned about dehydration. Her clients often stop drinking in the afternoon, to avoid the risk of a fall when getting up at night for the bathroom.

Isolation

Health issues are multiplied by other trends. People are now less likely to know their neighbours or have family living nearby, said Vanessa. “We support a high percentage of people who are living completely on their own and have nobody.”

Her clients are often “very stoic” and reluctant to ask for help, she added. Very hot weather deters people with existing health concerns from leaving home to seek support, yet around 70% struggle to access online services. This is a “massive barrier”, since GP surgeries, as well as banks, housing providers and utility companies increasingly require customers to go online to report issues or get help.

Vanessa said: “So they are sitting at home, becoming more isolated and lonely.”

Partnerships

Age UK Thanet supports around 300 people each day and aims to support all aspects of a person’s life. “It’s very much a holistic approach, working together with statutory services – we are the people that go in [and take] preventative measures, on a daily basis,” said Vanessa.

She highlighted successful partnerships with the Invicta Health hub in Broadstairs, through which her team signposts patients to services such as memory tests; and with Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, which is ensuring mental health support.

Patricia Vella-Burrows, a former nurse specialising in long-term conditions including dementia and Parkinson’s disease, said regular opportunities for older people to get out, socialise and take part in creative activities were vital for wellbeing, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

Patricia is co-founder of Kent-based Music4Wellbeing, which welcomes people with limited mobility, dementia and Parkinson’s to its wellbeing sessions, with several regular sessions in Thanet.

Very few of their venues have air conditioning and weather extremes – whether very hot, cold or wet – affect attendance. “Often people say to us, ‘you’re the only people we see all week’, so when they miss a session, it impacts their lives considerably,” she said.

Funding

Living conditions are another challenge. Many older people live in homes with poor circulation and no outside space, said Sandra Muirhead, and they may not be able to afford an efficient fan.

Age UK Thanet lost 60% of its own funding earlier this year, and it is “very hard” to continue delivering the extensive, holistic support that people need.

Vanessa said: “We can’t run on thin air.” Some of its services require clients to pay a fee.

Winter risks

She warned that the colder months can be just as tough. She is concerned about a potentially harsh winter ahead, adding: “We’re still in a massive cost of living crisis, and people will choose between eating and heating.”

The UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper recently told the NHS to start planning for heatwaves in the same way it currently does for winter crises, highlighting health risks for the elderly, young children and people with existing conditions.

Age UK Thanet is based at the Millmead Community Centre in Margate.

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