Abstract
Objectives: The review explores existing evidence to assess the care and support available to address climate change's health impact on the vulnerable communities dwelling older adults.
Method: The review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework for scoping reviews, and we searched 5 major databases: Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and EBSCOhost. All articles focused on older adults and climate change published in English were included without any restrictions on study design. A total of 29 studies met the criteria for review out of the initial 568 related articles. The final selected articles were reviewed, and key themes were identified.
Result: The review identified three key themes: risk factors associated with the climate crisis among older adults, the health impacts of climate change among older adults, and the available care and support for older people in the climate crisis. The review found health conditions, socioeconomic factors, physical disabilities, disaster-prone locations, and illiteracy to be risk factors associated with the climate crisis among older adults. It also identified the numerous health impacts, such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular issues, and mental and emotional distress, as the health implications of the crisis. However, while diverse support strategies were identified, only a few evidence on available care and interventions were found.
Conclusion: This study identified a dearth of evidence on support and care for older adults during the climate crisis and therefore suggests a need for active engagement in designing and testing strategies to address the impact of climate change to ensure healthy ageing.