Extreme Heat Vulnerability Among Older Adults: A Multilevel Risk Index for Portland, Oregon

Author:

Kohon Jacklyn N12ORCID,Tanaka Katsuya2,Himes Dani1,Toda Eiji13,Carder Paula C13,Carlson Bryant13

Affiliation:

1. Institute on Aging, Portland State University , Portland, Oregon , USA

2. Faculty of Economics, Research Center for Sustainability and Environment, Shiga University , Hikone, Shiga , Japan

3. OHSU-PSU School of Public Health , Portland, Oregon , USA

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionately affecting low-income older adults and people of color. Exposure factors, such as living in rental housing and lack of air conditioning, and sensitivity factors, such as chronic disease and social isolation, increase mortality risk among older adults. Older persons face multiple barriers to adaptive heat mitigation, particularly those living in historically temperate climates. This study measures two heat vulnerability indices to identify areas and individuals most vulnerable to extreme heat and discusses opportunities to mitigate vulnerability among older adults. Research Design and Methods We constructed two heat vulnerability indices for the Portland, OR, metropolitan area: one using area scale proxy measures extracted from existing regional data and another at the individual scale using survey data collected following the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome event. These indices were analyzed using principal component analysis and Geographic Information Systems. Results Results indicate that the spatial distribution of areas and individuals vulnerable to extreme heat are quite different. The only area found among the most vulnerable on both indices has the largest agglomeration of age- and income-restricted rental housing in the metropolitan area. Discussion and Implications Due to spatial variations in heat-related risk at the individual and area scales, measures addressing heat risk should not be spatially uniform. By focusing resources on older adult individuals and areas in particular need of assistance, heat risk management policies can be both highly efficient and cost effective.

Funder

Shiga University

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Geriatrics and Gerontology,Gerontology,General Medicine

Reference45 articles.

1. Identifying linkages between climate change, urbanisation, and population ageing for understanding vulnerability and risk to older people: A review;Antal;Ageing International,2022

2. Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health: Wealthy nations must do much more, much faster;Atwoli;Gerontologist,2021

3. Climate change and mental health of older persons: A human rights imperative;Ayalon;The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry,2021

4. A scoping review of research on older people and intergenerational relations in the context of climate change;Ayalon;Gerontologist,2022

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3