Rural older people, climate change and disasters

This chapter discusses the association between older age and increased susceptibility to the impacts of climate change and disasters. Two case studies provide examples of the need to better understand the experiences and capacity of older people and ways to engage them in preparing for and responding to climate change and disasters. While there has been some research to date exploring the intersection between ageing, rurality and disasters, more is needed to better understand the implications and opportunities for rural older people, to better plan for and respond to future events. Attention is drawn to the disproportionate impact of disasters on older people in the last 25 years. The necessity of communicating with and supporting older people during disaster events is emphasised and steps to improve communications are flagged. The fact that older people have had a longer life and are able to draw upon their previous experiences, supports the argument for involving them in disaster preparedness and response.