Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Climate change is creating new health risks for older adults. Research has shown that extreme temperatures, poor air quality, and disruptions to care during disasters significantly increase mortality and emergency department (ED) visits. My doctoral research at the University of Toronto focuses on applying frailty screening tools to identify older adults at high risk of adverse outcomes in the ED earlier. I will use this information to guide timely, person-centered care for the aging population. Using a multi-method design, I am looking at how integrating simple performance-based assessments with self-reported frailty screening tools can improve early identification of frailty. This will improve clinical decision-making and support safer transitions of care after ED visits. I am also exploring older adults' experiences with ongoing frailty screening and care needs during their ED stay to ensure practices align with their preferences and support person-centered care. The CIHR Summer Program Aging (SPA) 2026 theme, "Impact of climate change on the health of older persons," directly relates to my research. Extreme weather, poor air quality, and climate-related disruptions to care pathways are increasing the demand for emergency services, particularly among frail older adults. We clearly need to understand how climate stressors interact with frail older adults. By taking part in the SPA training program, I will expand my academic knowledge and collaborate with researchers across geriatric emergency medicine, nursing science, and environmental health. It will also help me co-develop strategies for geriatric emergency care to enhance resilience for older adults in the ED. My long-term goal is to embed climate adaptation into frailty-focused care that promotes health equity and resilience, and continuity of care across emergency and community healthcare systems for the aging population.