Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Climate change is creating new challenges for older adults, especially those living with dementia. They are more sensitive to heat, more affected by changes in routine, and more dependent on caregivers and stable environments. My research focuses on developing gamified exercise programs that help older adults in long-term care stay active, engaged, and physically resilient. These programs support quality of life and may also help older adults cope better during times of environmental stress. I also aim to explore how approaches like gamified exercise can be adapted to support the health of older adults as climate change brings more extreme weather events and disruptions to daily life. By learning from experts in aging and climate science through the SPA 2026 program, I hope to understand how resilience-building interventions can fit into climate adaptation strategies for long-term care homes. My goal is to help create care environments that protect the well-being of older adults physically, emotionally, and socially, even as climate conditions become more challenging.