2019_Ahrentzen_Strategies Indoor Outdoor Heat Older Adults_U Miami

Rethinking how to design and build our homes and communities SHERRY AHRENTZEN, PHD / SHIMBERG CENTER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA University of Miami, Department of Public Health Sciences, Distinguished Speakers Series 1 COLLISION OF 3 STORMS CLIMATE CHANGE Recent IPCC and US National Climate Assessment reports DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS By 2034, # of Americans 65+ > # younger than 18 HEALTHCARE NEEDS. [...] Built environment/infrastructure contributors + mitigation Social, economic and physiological conditions # 6 PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT WHY AGING? • Reduction in body’s ability to thermoregulate; and perception of external temperature experience (neurosensory changes) • Lower metabolic rate; lower cardiovascular flexibility, reactivity, output LIVING PATTERNS • Sedentary. [...] for blood pressure, cholesterol • Live alone, social isolation, depression • Desire to “age in place” or “age in community” • Less mobile, unable to reach cooler locations in heat wave • Many live in older homes SOCIETAL • Building standards do not take into account thermal comfort or sensation of older adults 7 VULNERABILITY Inherent to the system, not individual Created or exploited by the hazar. [...] agitation) affect care staff and other residents HOME+ HEALTHCARE AGITATION STAFF DEMANDS/ RESPONSE 9 INDOOR TEMPERATURES + MORBIDITY RESEARCH EVIDENCE REVIEWS + • 8 studies, range of methodologies, samples, countries: mixed HOUSING findings REGULATORY • Sleep, emotional distress, viral infection, CVS, blood pressure, GUIDELINES respiratory distress, stillbirth, miscarriage, quality of life/health. [...] 18 Passive & Non-Mechanical Features • Air flow #3 • Materials and insulation• Solar orientation of homes, developments• Shading • Cool paving, low albedo • Others Source: Creative Commons # 19 Urban Heat Island • High albedo #4 • Mitigate: trees, vegetation, shading devices, green roofs, cool roofs, others• Modeling, assessments 20 University of Georgia analysis of 50 most populous metro areas in.