A place-based approach towards understanding and improving heat resilience in older people housing
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Authors
Anna Mavrogianni (University College London)
Rajat Gupta (Oxford Brookes University)
Mike Davies (University College London)
Shakoor Hajat (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
Dan Bernie (Met Office)
Cathryn Birch (University of Leeds)
Sadie Boniface (University College London)
Lizzie Curtis (Oxfordshire County Council)
Laura Dawkins (Met Office)
Ruth Doherty (University of Edinburgh)
Contact
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Issue Date
06-May-26
Type
Conference Abstract
Language
Keywords
Housing , Climate , Community safety , Neighbourhood health & place-based working , Working with people and communities
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background
Older people are more vulnerable to hot weather as ageing reduces the body's ability to thermoregulate; a situation compounded by chronic health conditions or medications. Climate change exacerbates the intensity and frequency of heat episodes, while UK housing is unfit for higher temperatures. Assessing indoor heat exposures is challenging due to the diversity of residential settings occupied by older people. This includes different building typologies and care provision levels, with local authorities playing an important role in commissioning and delivering care services.
Objectives
This presentation will offer an overview of past and ongoing research assessing the heat resilience of older people housing in London and across the UK, working in close collaboration with Local Authority partners:
- independent living (social housing and retirement villages): UKRI-Defra ARCADE project
- supported living (extra care homes): NERC THERM-UK project
- assisted living (care homes): UKRI-NIHR HEARTH Hub and NERC ClimaCare project, building on a previous GLA-funded audit project
The objectives of this work are to:
- Create a shared vision for change amongst academic and non-academic partners and key stakeholders, including local authorities, whilst linking research to wider sociopolitical contexts to achieve wider system change towards climate change adaptation of the housing sector.
- Improve understanding of heat exposures, sensitivities, adaptive capacities and resulting health vulnerabilities in a comprehensive range of older people residential settings, some of which have not been studied in detail to date.
- Test tailored, place-based, data-driven climate adaptation measures, including extreme weather events not captured in current scenarios.
- Support collaborative decision-making for built environment professionals, care providers and budget holders by integrating recommendations into existing policy frameworks and strategies to improve the heat resilience of housing for older people.
Methods
Our mixed methods approach includes Theories of Change, literature reviews, indoor/outdoor environmental monitoring and modelling, health impact assessment and economic analyses.
Stage At Submission
Building on the findings and learnings of past work, such as the ClimaCare project, ARCADE, THERM-UK and HEARTH are in the process of recruiting case study settings.
Discussion Points
- Co-creation of research using participatory methods
- Aligning place-based research with local government priorities and policy levers