The accelerating pace of climate disruption creates a hidden health crisis for the world's fastest-growing demographic—adults over 60. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, this population faces compounding vulnerabilities that healthcare systems are only beginning to address systematically.
This comprehensive analysis of existing research reveals that older adults experience heightened susceptibility to heat-related cardiovascular events, respiratory complications from poor air quality, and infectious disease exposure through contaminated water sources. Women and individuals with pre-existing conditions face amplified risks during extreme weather episodes. Beyond physical health, climate-related stressors manifest as increased anxiety disorders and sleep disruption patterns among older populations.
The review identifies promising protective strategies, including subsidized cooling programs and community-based resilience initiatives that have demonstrated measurable reductions in climate-related mortality. Social support networks emerge as particularly effective buffers against both physical and psychological climate impacts.
This synthesis represents a crucial step toward evidence-based climate adaptation for aging populations. However, the research landscape remains fragmented, with most studies focusing on acute events rather than chronic exposure patterns. The findings underscore an urgent need for healthcare professionals to integrate climate vulnerability assessments into geriatric care protocols. As climate change intensifies, protecting older adults requires coordinated public health strategies that address both immediate risks and long-term adaptive capacity building.