Factoring Climate Change into Senior Living Decisions

Hurricane Beryl recently left more than 2.2 million Houston homes and businesses without power — some for nearly two weeks. Since the storm’s direct hit on July 8 as a Category 1 hurricane, more than a dozen Houstonians have died from heat-related causes, many of whom were vulnerable older adults. This is just the most recent example of how increasingly severe natural disasters, many fueled by climate change, are impacting retirees’ homes and lives.

To what degree should people consider climate change and the potential risk of natural disasters when making a senior living decision, such as choosing a retirement location?

More days with extreme heat

According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists, June 2024 was the warmest month on record around the globe. As the Earth continues to warm, it may become increasingly dangerous for our health, especially for older adults, who are more susceptible to heat-related issues.

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that an increasing number of Americans are dying from heat-related causes, with approximately 1,602 of those deaths occurring in 2021, 1,722 in 2022, and 2,302 in 2023. While not all of these deaths are among older adults, those age 65 and up are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of heat. Heat exhaustion or stroke and worsening cases of COPD and heart disease are just a few of the conditions to watch out for.

Add to the equation how many older adults are flocking to the warmth of Sunbelt states for their retirement years. Indeed, the state with the most heat-related deaths in 2023 was Arizona, where heat killed 874 people — at least 645 in Maricopa County alone (greater Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe). The other top states for heat deaths in 2023 were Texas with 450 deaths, Nevada with 226, Florida with 84 deaths, and Louisiana with 83.

In fact, these five Sunbelt states were home to 61% of those who died from heat-related causes in the last five years. By comparison, those five states accounted for just 18% of U.S. heat deaths from 1979 to 1999.

There is concern that the number of heat-related deaths will only increase as summertime temperature averages increase in these retirement destinations in the years to come. It is essential that older adults drink plenty of hydrating fluids (as opposed to diuretic liquids like alcohol and caffeine), avoid being in the sun during the hottest parts of the day, and ensure they have adequate air conditioning and fans to keep them cool on hot days.

A rise in severity of hurricanes and flooding

The number and severity of hurricanes is increasing as ocean temperatures and sea levels continue to rise. Tom Knutson, senior scientist at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory who specializes in hurricanes and climate change, predicts:

Sea level rise will cause more coastal flooding and property damage, especially as more people live and build near the coast.
Hurricane-produced rainfall will increase as a result of warmer surface temperatures leading to more moisture in the air.
Hurricanes will become increasingly powerful, intensifying more quickly, as water temperatures rise.
The percentage of hurricanes that reach Category 4 or 5 levels will increase due to global warming.

Of course, coastal areas remain attractive to many people, including many retirees. But as more people live in hurricane-prone regions, the property damage, flooding, and other storm-related issues can have a greater impact, especially on older adults.

As storms approach, preparations like boarding up windows and filling sandbags can be increasingly challenging as people age. Should evacuations be necessary, it can be particularly difficult for those who may have health or mobility problems.

And it also can be more dangerous for older people who opt to remain in the storm zone instead of fleeing. Senior adults may experience increased challenges and dangers trying to clear fallen trees and debris, potentially dealing with rising waters, and enduring extended power outages, especially on very hot days.

An increase in droughts and wildfires

The other end of the spectrum from hurricanes and flooding when it comes to climate change-related disasters is drought. According to rainfall data from the EPA, from 2000 through 2023, up to 70% of the U.S. experienced abnormally dry conditions at any given time, with a number of areas suffering moderate to severe drought, leading to many lakes and reservoirs getting dangerously low.

Drought is particularly prevalent in areas that are often attractive to retirees for their warm, sunny climates — California, Texas, and the rest of the desert Southwest for instance — though other areas like Florida and the Northwest are also susceptible. As rivers are diverted to water rain-starved crops, water sources for many desert cities and towns are threatened too.

The other consequence of drought is of course increased fire risk. In recent years, fast-moving wildfires have destroyed homes and businesses — and lives. While technology has improved our ability to communicate emergency evacuations, we saw in Lahaina, Hawaii, how quickly a wind-driven fire can rip through a town and kill.

Here again, as attractive as the weather may be, living in these areas that are drought- and wildfire-prone as a result of climate extremes can be deadly, particularly for older adults. For those with mobility issues or who are no longer able to drive, for example, an emergency evacuation may not allow enough time to flee to safety.

The added risks of power failures and brownouts

We all know that when a natural disaster hits — such as a hurricane, blizzard, extreme heat or cold, or wildfires — power supplies can be impacted. In some instances, lines are damaged. Other times the power grid can’t keep up with demand. In still other cases, power is shut off to prevent additional threats.

No matter the cause, this leaves people without heat in the winter or air conditioning in summer, both of which can be deadly, particularly for older adults, who are more impacted by temperature extremes. Additionally, older people can lose power to oxygen machines, refrigeration for food and medications, as well as other essential equipment. As we’ve seen in Houston recently, such power outages can persist for weeks in certain cases, leading to preventable health issues for older adults and even death.

Should climate change determine your senior living location?

It is understandable that many older adults are attracted to the areas of the country that have more temperate climates. The trade-off of that warm, sunny weather, however, can be an increased risk for such climate-driven natural disasters as hurricanes, flooding, drought, and wildfires.

As you consider where you might like to live during your retirement years, it is worth considering the impacts of climate change to certain areas. While we often think about summertime catastrophes like hurricanes or wildfires, this does apply to colder climates as well, where severe and sometimes deadly winter weather is increasingly common.

Not only are there potential risks of property damage or loss due to climate change-related events, there are also health and safety considerations. Would you be physically able to prepare your home for an impending catastrophe? And would you be physically able to evacuate if necessary? Could you survive without power for an extended period of time?

On top of that, there are financial aspects to consider. What would you do if your home was damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster? People should ponder if they would be able to rebuild in that same location … and if they would want to. On top of that, some insurance carriers are pulling out of high-risk areas, jacking up premiums, and even dropping existing policies, leaving people in a precarious position should their homes be impacted by a catastrophe.

Climate change and retirement community decisions

This is an additional point to consider when weighing various retirement communities as well, especially if the community is in an area prone to severe weather or wildfires.

You should discuss with community representatives what evacuation plans are in place, particularly for residents who may have health or mobility issues.
Inquire about backup generators to keep the power running.
Should the community suffer damage, ask what liability residents assume.
Also ask where residents would live while any necessary repairs are completed.

Going forward, climate change is a topic that the senior living industry must proactively address, as well. Yes, communities must have detailed evacuation plans in place and regularly perform practice drills. But it also should be incumbent on the industry to take climate change and potential disasters into account when selecting the location for and constructing new retirement communities. For example, they must consider:

Are there adequate roads to accommodate multiple escape routes from the community?
Are buildings situated on high ground, above any flood-prone areas?
Are building materials impact-resistant in locations that could suffer a hurricane?
In areas at risk for wildfires, are building materials fire-resistant and is the landscaping designed to keep flames at bay?
Are there sufficient back-up generators to power essential equipment and keep residents comfortable, safe, and healthy?

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