Climate Change And Temperature Changes In Florida

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON COMFORT LEVELS OF OLDER PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES IN FLORIDA

John Onyango1 & Angelica Tavarez

1 School of Architecture, University of Miami, USA, [e-mail]
2 School of Architecture, University of Miami, USA, [e-mail]

Abstract It is estimated that temperature and humidity levels in Florida will increase on average by between 4° F and 11° F by 2080 due to effects of climate change. This will results in the characteristics of the indoor environment falling outside the comfort zone and an increased use of air conditioning system. The impact of the change on the elderly is particularly frightening. According to the Alzheimer’s Association study, the number of people with dementia
in the USA is expected to top 7.7 million by 2030. The study examined the indoor environmental quality of five nursing homes in South Miami in order to understand the current state of affairs. It then simulated what these conditions exactly are and how they are most likely due to climate change effects. The study used Energyplus and Radiance to examine the effects using morphed probabilistic data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA). Keywords: indoor temperatures, elderly, climate change, South Florida, nursing homes

As the ecology of our planet is constantly evolving, climate change continues to play a major role in the many ways in which human health will be negatively impacted in the future. In addition to plethora of already existing health problems mankind is already experiencing, the impact of these changes will bring on and increase the chance of newer and more severe health problems, and in some unfortunate cases, cause premature death. These environmental changes that will cause these unfortunate illnesses include floods, rising sea levels, heat waves, and increased drought. (Carpenter H.) As a result, there will be a direct responsibility in the health care field that will require nurses to be educated and prepared for increased hospital visits and on their toes for continuous catastrophic events.

It is estimated that temperature and humidity levels in Florida will increase on average by between 4° F and 11° F by 2080 due to effects of climate change.
This will result in the characteristics of the indoor environment falling outside the comfort zone and as a predictable defense, an increased use of air conditioning systems. According to The Royal Society for Public Health, due to a warming climate, it is any individual’s first intuition to use air conditions in order to prevent discomfort. This method is ironically the solution that is non-sustainable and contradicts the growing desire for more energy efficient and airtight homes that many individuals continue to stress. Rising temperatures have the ability to compromise the human body and adversely affecting health. Consequently, the human body has difficulties maintaining thermoregulation. (Anderson M.) Therefore, thresholds for indoor temperature should be defined as a public health issue. Under these circumstances, thermoregulation is the ability of the human body to maintain a regular body temperature, even when the surrounding temperature is immeasurably different. As a result, one can undergo physiological damage and can experience a continuum of heat stress, strain, stroke, and even death. Certain age groups and demographics are at increased risk of heat-related illnesses. Being that the temperature in Florida has already begun to cause unbearable reactions, the nursing homes in the more southern areas are
going to need to take serious preventative measures. Considering Florida has the highest percentage of senior residents in the country, with 17.3 percent older than age 65 in 2010, the impact of the change on the elderly is particularly frightening. According to the Alzheimer’s Association study, the number of people with dementia is 24.3 million globally with and constant increase of approximately 4.6 million new cases per year. The number of people with dementia in the USA is expected to top 7.7 million by 2030. (Fleming R.)

Map: Nursing Homes in South Florida

Increased urbanization and aging populations will collectively play a role as countless built up areas cause fluctuating indoor and outdoor temperatures due to atmospheric and surface impacts. This will make it difficult to attend to the age groups and demographics that are more susceptible to the negative impact. As a result of increased urbanization and elderly populations, more individuals will be at risk of exposure and will endure negatively painful effects from these rising temperatures. Individuals with previous health issues, such as those individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, are greatly at risk. Elderly patients need to be housed in stable living environments that rather than cause more discomfort, have done studies in order to better understand how to solve the comfort issues for their patients. As shown in Table 1, Alzheimer’s patients are physically and mentally unable to adapt their behaviors under the conditions of increased risk of heat. Therefore, it is the duty of the designer and health care professionals to collectively provide these patients with the assistance they cannot physically provide themselves. Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and has increased 68 percent from 2000 to 2010. (Anderson M.)

When it comes to rising temperatures and the well being and caring for an Alzheimer’s and dementia patient, thermal comfort is the underlying factor that should be addressed throughout a design process. Under these circumstances, the built environment as well as the schedule, major roles and structure of the health care professionals should be collectively addressed in the design process. The discomfort of the patients should always be assessed in order to determine the measures that need to be taken. These patients are extremely vulnerable to discomfort and potential complications that can result with falls, aspiration, and infection. These issues must be addressed before these episodes occur. This is especially dangerous because patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia lose the ability to communicate verbally. They express their moods through non-verbal communication including facial expressions, body motion, postures and gestures, and vocalizations. (Houde S.) In a study done by Ormandy and Ezratty based on health and thermal comfort, they reviewed the content of the universally applied World Health Organization (WHO). These guidelines are used in order to assess the quality of indoor temperatures. They stress that thermal comfort relates to an individual’s health and thermoregulation. (Anderson M.) All built environments housing elderly Alzheimer’s and dementia patients should be equipped with the necessary guidance for the protection of these individuals which are more susceptible to the extremes of these rising temperatures. So, how do we design built environments for the health and safety of these inadaptable individuals without increasing energy use through the use of air conditioning?

A study examined the indoor environmental quality of five nursing homes in South Miami in order to understand the current state of affairs.
It then simulated what these conditions exactly are and later came to realize that they are most likely have a direct relation with rising outdoor temperature which are due to climate change effects. The study used Energyplus and Radiance to examine the effects using morphed probabilistic data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (NOAA). There has been a positive response to these studies that involve reducing carbon emissions in order to mitigate climate change. This had been done through the design and construction of more energy-efficient buildings. However, there have been concerns that buildings like these can potentially overheat due to the increasing levels of thermal insulation and the airtightness of the design reducing the potential to reject heat gains from. As a result, it is important to look at the potential of these energy efficient building to become hotter and the effects of these instances on ones health. As stated earlier, air conditioning will be ones first line of defence in order to maintain the indoor temperature to that of ones thermal comfort level and as a result, preserve the indoor health and well-being of the population. Although one may think that building energy-efficient structures will reduce carbon emissions, the airtight spaces that are a direct outcome of these design will most likely
require air conditioning to keep cool and maintain a health indoor environment. However, the use of air conditioning will increase carbon emissions once again. (Anderson M.)

With respect to the vulnerability of the Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, it is the responsibility of the care home staff to take note of heat waves that will in fact cause the thermal discomfort to begin with. Studies show that patients with complex health conditions are greatly affected during periods of severe heat. Therefore, certain standards should be implemented through the indoor heat thresholds in regards to patient’s health in order to further increase the capacity for preventative measures and action. It has been made clear that the variety of different types of homes, human adaptive behaviour, and high risk populations would make it difficult to compile a comprehensive set of rules that may ultimately work for elderly homes and patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia as a whole.

REFERENCES

Anderson Mindy, Carmichael Catriona, Dengel Andy, Murray Virginia, Swainson Michael (2012) : Perspectives in Public Health Defining indoor heat thresholds for health in the UK 158-161, 162, 163

Fleming Richard, Purandare Nitin (2010) : Long-term care for people with dementia: environmental design guidelines. 1084, 1085

Hwang Jihye, Kim Jeong Tai, Lee Yeunsook, Lim Soohyun (2012) Indoor Building Environment: Identifying Characteristics of Design Guidelenes for Elderly Care Environments from Holistic Health Perspetive. 244-247

Carpenter H., Sayre L., Rhazi N., Hughes NL. (2010): Climate change and human health: the role of nurses in confronting the issue.