While the impact of climate change on health in the general population has
been investigated, there are comparably few studies on the impact it has on
older people - despite the very fact that climate change disproportionally affects
older people (Leyva et al., 2017).
Older people's mortality rate is significantly higher, mobility is reduced and
susceptibility to social isolation and disease increased. Older people
experience greater impacts from flood events and related diseases; higher
mortality rates are due to drowning and secondary health impacts (e.g. heart
problems, restricted access to medicine).The same is true for
typhoons and hurricanes, with the elderly being more likely
to die because of mobility difficulties or lack of evacuation assistance
(HelpAge, 2015). About half of the people who died during Hurricane Katrina in
2005, were 75 or older, during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, half of those who lost
their lives were over 65 (via).
Climate change also forces people to migrate and it is the older ones who
often stay behind. Older people are also disproportionally affected by heat waves (HelpAge, 2015). The Chicago heatwave of 1995, for instance, caused 514 heat-related deaths, 72% of them were older than 65 (via).
The elderly are already affected by the impacts of
climate change. Over the next decades, however, their vulnerability is set to
increase (HelpAge, 2015).
- - - - - -
- HelpAge (2015). Climate change in an ageing world,
link
- Leyva, E. W. A., Beaman, A. & Davidson, P. M. (2017). Health Impact of
Climate Change in Older People: An Integrative Review and Implications for
Nursing. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 49(6), 670-678.
- photograph by Martin Parr
via
More:
- For The Elderly, Climate Change Poses More Risks To Wellness, 2021,
Forbes
- The forgotten generation: The elderly are most at risk of suffering climate
change,
The Independent
Great!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers! Love the photograph!
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