CLIMATE & Aging

Climate change and aging intersect in profound ways, posing significant challenges for the environment and society. Extreme weather events disproportionately affect older adults who face challenges including complex medical conditions that can impair physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities; reliance on caregivers and medical systems that may be disrupted during disasters; decreased agility and mobility due to normal aging processes; and cognitive impairments. Urbanization trends and social determinants including economic insecurity and substandard housing exacerbate the impact of climate disasters on older adults. Moreover, cities are incredibly diverse, but this places certain demographic groups, including immigrants and communities of color—disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions—at increased risk of the impacts associated with climate change.