Summer Vs Winter: Impact of Climate Change on Older Adults

Introduction

Global warming is the rise of temperature of the earth’s climate system, with the warmest temperature on record since the 21st century. The weather events are indisputably more frequent, more server, and more disruptive. The rise of temperature is bringing about the increase in heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and air pollution. Policymakers have avoided taking action to reverse these effects claiming addressing climate change would affect businesses and the economy. Climate change is becoming an increasing problem in society today, and the health risks of older adults are at higher risk because of climate change. Older adults experience many weather-related factors because of climate change. They are affected because of limited mobility, social isolation, income, compromised agriculture, and chronic illness. As seniors age, they become more vulnerable to health risks. The unstable weather conditions effects put the health of older adults at a higher risk.

Impact of Weather Conditions on the Elders

Social and economic factors have had adverse effects on older adults during hazardous weather conditions. Older adults with less fortunate and lack of transportation will be at a higher risk for the adverse outcome because of climate change. Socioeconomic disadvantages play a significant role during extreme weather conditions, and climate change brings about unpredictable weather changes that affect the income of older adults. The damages that their structure may experience during a storm can put a strain on their finances. The constant weather changes place older adults in a heighten vulnerable state. “The older population is also at greater risk because of increased susceptibility to disease and to the effects of stresses on the food and water supply, and reduced ability to mobilize quickly” (ASA,?).

The physical and mental capacity of the older population should be observed during hazardous weather conditions. The body goes through a process of change, and the change in older adults brings chronic diseases and social isolation. Climate change causes more damage to older adults with chronic illnesses and socially isolated. Their stress level rises to an unhealthy point because of the lack of food and water supply during the weather event. With such an unhealthy stress level, it is only reasonable to assume that their health would become affected negatively. The stress can cause an older adult to become homebound, and their mobility is called into question. The ability to move around and distract their minds at an older age is crucial for all older adults. Volunteering, working, or attending senior centers are beneficial to their psychosocial. Mobility is vital for their health with constant movement, the better their health can remain. The lack of mobility can bring about more diseases and social isolation. Mobility and social networking are aspects that older adults need to experience no matter their age.

The Weather Patterns in Summer and Winter

Meteorologists study weather patterns from over the years and with their tools, come up with an educated guess to predict the weather. However, no matter the prediction, each season are relativizing unpredictable. Meteorologist is still trying to master, especially the summer and winter seasons. The older population turn on their television to watch the weather to dress themselves according to the weather report. There are days where the weather is average and other days when it is breaking records, and those are the days where seniors experience higher health risks. The summer brings heat waves, humidity, rainstorms, and hurricanes. The winter brings icy roads, cold weather, and snowstorms. The summer and winter seasons are the time to keep a closer eye on the older population because these seasons cause them great harm. “Although more older than younger adults reported that heat was the summer weather condition most likely to change the way they went about their day-to-day activities, very few respondents reported difficulty leaving home (7%), driving (1%), going to work or volunteer activities (3%), or shopping for groceries (8%) when it was hot (results not shown)” (NCBI,?).

Extreme heat conditions affected older adults more though out the summer season. Older adults are less likely to go outside and do their day to day activities. The heat is not suitable for their health and can cause damage to their breathing. The weather can cause fainting, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. That is why meteorologist suggests that older adults stay home and keep cool when it is too hot to go outside and if they choose to exit their homes to go to cooling centers for the elderly to stay out of the heat. When winter season is upon, then older adults found it difficult to do day to day activities when the roads are icy. The older population chooses to stay indoors for their well-being. Older adults can experience falls, which can cause a significant health change to their daily routine. They are also at higher risk of catching influenza and pneumonia. That is why older adults are encouraged to stay indoors during these weather conditions, and with climate change, older adults will experience more heatwaves and unpredictable weather events.

Conclusion

Climate change is creating more significant health risks for older adults, which is affecting their way of living. Older adults are affected in many different ways because of weather conditions, and their lives have to be put on pause because it is not recommended that they exit their homes because of health or safety reasons. Their mobility, finances, health, and mental capacity is hugely affected because of weather events. Older adults found it the most difficult to leave their homes during the summer and winter seasons, so something should be put in place to assist them to go their homes and attend a senior center or to volunteer like usual. Now that the problem is known, a solution should be put in place to address the effects of older adults during hazardous weather events. Providing all older adults with car services that would take them where they need to go. Providing some form of financial assistance for repairing their homes because of weather damages could be a start to creating a positive influence on the problem that older adults experience after a weather event.

Works Cited

1. ASA (American Society on Aging). 'The Effects of Climate Change on Older Adults.' Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 25, no. 6, 2013, pp. 997-1013.
2. NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). 'Impact of Extreme Weather Conditions on Older Adults.' International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 9, 2019, p. 1647.
3. Smith, Emma. 'Socioeconomic Disadvantages and Vulnerability of Older Adults during Extreme Weather Events.' Journal of Gerontological Social Work, vol. 63, no. 3, 2020, pp. 215-232.
4. Taylor, Robert. 'Climate Change and Health Risks for Older Adults.' Journal of Aging and Environmental Health, vol. 18, no. 2, 2018, pp. 121-138.
5. Wang, Linda. 'Impacts of Climate Change on Older Adults: A Comprehensive Review.' Current Environmental Health Reports, vol. 4, no. 2, 2017, pp. 157-165.