Aging in a Changing Climate and Experience The Effect of Climate Change

Year 2024, , 126 - 136, 31.08.2024

Dilek Doruk Kondakcı

https://doi.org/10.47141/geriatrik.1419542

Abstract

This paper aims to evaluate various aspects of climate change and its impact on the health of the elderly. Globally, the rapid aging of the population on the one hand and climate change on the other is one of today’s major challenges. Climate change has been the cause of an increasing number of natural disasters in recent years; disasters such as floods, heat waves, hurricanes, droughts, and forest fires caused by climate change significantly impact humans and their habitations. Climate change negatively affects human health and psychology. As many studies have indicated, although the health of individuals of all ages is affected by climate change, ageing individuals are disproportionately affected more. Ageing individuals are at greater risk of climate change-related events due to various physiological, cognitive, social, and financial factors and because of inadequacy or deprivation. Ageing is an inevitable, irreversible, and unidirectional process. Many are diagnosed with chronic disease and a high level of frailty. In addition, exposure to extreme heat/cold can increase hospital admissions and mortality risk among older adults, especially those with heart failure, diabetes, and other chronic heatsensitive health problems. The elderly may also be exposed to serious injuries and disabilities in extreme weather events. However, the particular condition of older people makes timely and safe evacuation during climate change-related events challenging. They may experience difficulties accessing clean water and safe food due to events such as floods, earthquakes, and droughts caused by climate change. As a result, death may occur due to malnutrition and water-borne diseases. In conclusion, climate change can cause serious problems for the elderly. Therefore, raising awareness about this issue in society and taking necessary precautions to help older adults is important.

Keywords

Older Adult, Disasters, Health, Climate Gerontology, Climate Change

Değişen İklimde Yaşlanmak ve İklim Değişikliğini Yaşamak

Abstract

Bu derleme, iklim değişikliğinin çeşitli yönlerini ve yaşlıların sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Küresel olarak bir yandan nüfusun hızla yaşlanması diğer yandan iklimin değişmesi günümüzün önemli sorunlarındandır. Son yıllarda artan doğal afetlerin temelinde iklim değişikliği yer almaktadır. İklim değişikliği nedeniyle meydana gelen seller, sıcak hava dalgaları, kasırgalar, kuraklık ve orman yangınları gibi olaylar önemli etkiye sahiptir. İklim değişikliği, insan sağlığı ve psikolojisi üzerinde olumsuz etki yaratmaktadır. İklim değişikliği ile her yaştaki bireyin sağlığı etkilense de giderek artan sayıdaki araştırmanın da gösterdiği gibi yaşlı bireylerin hayatlarının bir döneminde daha fazla ve orantısız bir şekilde etkilendiği görülmektedir. Yaş almış bireyler çeşitli faktörler (fizyolojik, bilişsel, sosyal, ekonomik vb. yetersizlik veya yoksunluk) nedeniyle iklim değişikliğine bağlı olaylarda daha büyük risk altındadır. Yaşlanma kaçınılmaz, geri dönüşü olmayan ve tek yönlü bir süreçtir. Birçok yaşlının kronik hastalık tanısı vardır ve kırılganlık düzeyi yüksektir. Aşırı sıcağa/ soğuğa maruz kalma özellikle kalp yetmezliği, diyabet ve ısıya duyarlı diğer kronik sağlık sorunları yaşlı bireyler arasında hastane başvuruları ve ölüm riskini artırabilir. Yaşlı bireyler aşırı hava olaylarında ciddi yaralanmalar ve sakatlıklara maruz kalabilirler. Yaşlı bireyin kendine has durumu iklim değişimine bağlı olaylar esnasında zamanında ve güvenli tahliyeyi güçleştirmektedir. İklim değişiminin ortaya çıkarabileceği sel, deprem ve kuraklık gibi olaylar nedeniyle yaşlı bireyler temiz su ve güvenli gıdaya erişim zorlukları yaşayabilirler. Bunun sonucunda yetersiz beslenme ve su kaynaklı hastalıklar nedeniyle ölümler meydana gelebilir. Sonuç olarak; iklim değişikliği yaşlılar üzerinde ciddi sorunlara neden olabilen etkiler ortaya çıkarabilmektedir. Toplumun bilinçlendirilmesi ve yaşlı bireyler için gerekli önlemlerin alınması önem arz etmektedir.

Keywords

Yaşlı Yetişkin, Afet, Sağlık, İklim Gerontolojisi, İklim Değişikliği

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Yok

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