Empowering the Elderly in the Face of Climate Change: A Review Article

Background: The growing urgency of climate change necessitates action from all sectors of society, including the elderly population. While often portrayed as passive victims, older adults possess unique vulnerabilities to climate-induced disasters due to age-related physical limitations, pre-existing health conditions, and reduced access to resources. However, they also harbor a wealth of experience, knowledge, and skills that can be invaluable in addressing this global challenge.Method: The current study is a type of review study that examines and analyzes the library of existing literature on the effects of climate change on the elderly, their potential to participate in action in the face of climate change, and the obstacles they face. Gives. After finding relevant keywords from existing articles and applying the search strategy from various databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SID, it led to the selection of ۲۲ related articles, the information extracted from which was used to analyze the results, discuss them, and draw conclusions.Result: The review shows that the elderly are exposed to risks from extreme weather events, health risks due to heat waves and air pollution, and the challenge of accessing resources during disasters. Despite these vulnerabilities, the elderly are considered valuable assets to deal with climate change and have accumulated knowledge, strong intergenerational connections, political influence, and the desire to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. Ageism, a lack of awareness, and limited access to opportunities are obstacles to the full participation of the elderly in climate projects.Conclusion: By acknowledging the vulnerabilities of the elderly and harnessing their potential, a more inclusive and effective approach to combating climate change can be created. The review suggests various strategies, including knowledge dissemination, intergenerational collaboration, accessible volunteer opportunities, policy participation, and infrastructure development centered on the elderly, to empower them as active partners in building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Keywords:

climate change , elderly , vulnerability , empowerment , participation , intergenerational cooperation