Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Canada's population of adults aged 65 and older is increasing, and maintaining mobility, through walking, driving, and social participation, is essential for healthy aging. Climate change is reshaping the environments in which Canadians live, travel, and age. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to heat, poor air quality, storms, and extreme cold, yet little is known about how these conditions affect their mobility, social engagement, and independence. This study uses national data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) to examine how six-year changes in environmental and climate-related factors, including average annual temperature, precipitation, wind speed, air quality, ozone levels, greenness, and daylight hours, affect three key aspects of mobility among older adults: life-space mobility (how far and how often individuals move outside the home), social participation, and driving frequency. Participants' residential areas were linked to national climate and environmental datasets to assess regional patterns and seasonal variations. Advanced statistical models will determine whether inequities related to age, gender, race, or disability modify or mediate these relationships. For example, do older women, racialized groups, or people with physical disabilities experience greater reductions in life-space mobility during periods of extreme heat or poor air quality, and how are such climatic changes associated with mobility decline over six years? This ongoing study will identify the climatic factors that most restrict mobility and the groups most affected. The findings will inform policies that promote safe outdoor activity and social inclusion for older Canadians in a changing climate, such as shaded walkways, winter maintenance, and enhanced air-quality alerts. The research will support Canada's efforts to build climate-resilient, equitable, and age-friendly communities that enable healthy and active ageing for all.