Loughnan Margaret E, Carroll Matthew, Tapper Nigel
Monash Weather and Climate, School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Australas J Ageing. 2014 Dec;33(4):271-7. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12050. Epub 2013 Aug 6.
With the advent of climate change, it is important that strategies be put in place to minimise the effects of heat. These impacts can be compounded by other factors such as location and age. This exploratory pilot study focuses on older people in a rural Victorian community that regularly experiences hot weather.
Mixed methods - including a focus group, household interviews, daily diaries and collection of meteorological data.
The community is generally well adapted to heat with all having modified their homes and behaviours to cope with extreme heat. There was, however, little understanding or planning regarding the potential health impacts of heat.
There is a clear need for community-directed adaptation to best meet the needs of older people, particularly those living in urban areas, and for targeted public health campaigns to increase awareness of heat-health risks and disseminate the strategies identified in this community.
随着气候变化的出现，制定策略以尽量减少高温影响至关重要。这些影响可能会因地点和年龄等其他因素而加剧。这项探索性试点研究聚焦于维多利亚州一个经常经历炎热天气的农村社区中的老年人。
采用混合方法——包括焦点小组、家庭访谈、每日日记以及气象数据收集。
该社区总体上对高温适应良好，所有人都对自家房屋和行为做出了调整以应对极端高温。然而，对于高温对健康的潜在影响，人们了解和规划甚少。
显然需要针对社区进行适应性调整，以最好地满足老年人的需求，尤其是那些居住在城市地区的老年人的需求，并且需要开展有针对性的公共卫生运动，以提高对高温健康风险的认识，并传播在该社区确定的应对策略。
