Grant: Catalyst Grant: CBR in Climate Change Priority Area - Climate Justice

In late June 2021, an unprecedented heat dome led to record high temperatures across many parts of British Columbia (BC) that lasted several days. The BC Coroners Service concluded that 619 people died of heat-related causes during this time, most of whom were older adults in poorer health and who lived alone. With the continued effects of climate change, extreme heat events are predicted to become more common and intense. In order to prepare for future extreme heat events, it will be important to identify the populations most susceptible to their negative impacts and ensure they are well supported. This project is co-led by an academic researcher and a community-based organization, United Way BC, in collaboration with Fraser Health, the BC Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control. Guided by this team, we will use routinely collected health and social data to examine predictors of need for health care services during extreme heat events among older adults living in the community. Focusing on the impact of the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia on older adults living in the community, we will aim to answer: (1) What kinds of health services were most affected by the heat dome and how much were they affected?; and (2) What are the demographic, social and health characteristics associated with increased health care use during the heat dome? We will consult with the community, including those who provide services to seniors, and older adults with lived experience to get input on the research and to form recommendations from our results. With the involvement of stakeholders and community leaders, the results from this project can inform community and health system planning to support vulnerable populations and mitigate the impact of future extreme heat events.