Self-Care Guidelines towards Older Adults’ Protective Measures about Climate Change

Background: Climate change poses a significant threat to global health, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as the elderly. The risks associated with climate change are not solely linked to age; rather, they intersect with various factors including gender, socioeconomic status, mental health, and physical or cognitive abilities, rendering older adults especially at risk. The consequences can manifest as increased morbidity and mortality due to the rising frequency of extreme weather events like heatwaves and storms, as well as heightened exposure to zoonotic diseases and food, water, and vector-borne illnesses. Aims: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of self-care guidelines designed to enhance protective measures for older adults in the context of climate change. Research design: A quasi-experimental design was employed, incorporating pre- and post-intervention assessments of the self-care guidelines. A multistage random sampling technique was utilized to select geriatric homes, with a convenience sample of all participants on the data collection day included. Setting: The research was conducted in geriatric homes located in the Giza governorate, specifically at the House of Umm Hani in Imbaba and the House of Islamic Acquaintance in the Mohandessin area of Giza, Egypt.  Subjects: A total of 96 older adults were included in the study, representing all individuals available during the data collection period at the specified locations. Tools: A structured interview questionnaire was developed, consisting of four sections socio-demographic details of older adults, their health status, awareness of climate change, and older adults reported protective measures practices regarding their adaption towards climate change.Results: The findings revealed that 56.3% of participants, aged between 60 and under 75 years, had a mean age of 72.24 years (SD = 7.02). Following the implementation of the program, 61.5% of the elderly participants demonstrated a good understanding of climate change (p=0.01), while the mean score for adequate protective practices was 68.35 (SD = 23.81), also showing statistical significance (p=0.01).Conclusion: indicates a statistically significant and strong positive correlation between the total knowledge scores and the overall practice scores among the elderly participants.Recommendation: It is recommended to develop an educational program for elderly individuals with chronic diseases to enhance their ability to cope with climate change.