Heat Perception and Coping Strategies: A Structured Interview-Based Study of Elderly People in Cologne, Germany

Juliane Kemen, Silvia Schäffer-Gemein, Johanna Grünewald and Thomas Kistemann
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Juliane Kemen: GeoHealth Centre, Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
Silvia Schäffer-Gemein: GeoHealth Centre, Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
Johanna Grünewald: Environmental Planning and Prevention, The Environmental and Consumer Protection Office of Cologne City Council, Willy-Brandt-Platz 2, 50679 Köln, Germany
Thomas Kistemann: GeoHealth Centre, Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: The transdisciplinary project “Heat-Health Action Plan for Elderly People in Cologne” addresses the most heat-vulnerable risk group, people over 65 years of age. A quantitative study aimed to better understand heat perception and coping strategies of elderly people during heat waves to inform heat-health action plans. We conducted a representative quantitative survey via structured interviews with 258 randomly chosen people over 65 years old, living in their own homes in four areas of Cologne, Germany. These areas varied, both in terms of social status and heat strain. Data regarding demographics, health status, coping strategies, and heat perception were collected in personal interviews from August to October 2019. The majority of the participants perceived heat strain as moderate to very challenging. Women, people with a lower monthly income, and those with a lower health status found the heat more challenging. We found that participants adapted to heat with a number of body-related, home-protective, and activity-related coping strategies. The number of coping strategies was associated with perceived personal heat strain. There is a definite underuse of water-related heat adaption strategies among the elderly. This is of increasing relevance, as rising heat impact will lead to more heat-related geriatric morbidity. Our results are seminal to inform elderly-specific, socio-adapted local heat-health action plans.

Keywords: climate change adaptation; health; community health; heat perception; coping strategies; heat-health action plan; heatwave; self-reported health; climate change adaptation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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