Detroit Evening Report: U-M report finds most older adults concerned about climate and health

The National Poll on Healthy Aging has released new data regarding how climate change and extreme weather impact health for adults 50 and up.

Sue Ann Bell, associate professor of nursing at the University of Michigan, says she hopes the poll encourages older adults, health care providers and people who work in emergency response and government to prepare to care for older adults during emergencies. 

“To prioritize extreme weather events and extreme weather event planning, because I think one thing we see so often is that we go for a period of time without a disaster happening. And you know, so you have sort of a false sense of confidence that can lead to being less prepared.”

Listen: Sue Ann Bell on how climate change, severe weather affects older adults

The poll asked older adults about their experiences with extreme weather events and their concerns about how extreme weather events might impact their health, both now and in the future. 

The survey found 75% of Michiganders who had lived through an extreme weather event said they were very concerned about the impacts of these events on their health. That’s compared to around 33% of older adults in Michigan who had not experienced an extreme weather event. 

The poll also found older adults in Michigan were twice as likely as older adults across the nation to experience a long weather-related power outage.

“They had concerns about the impact of how these extended power outages might continue in the future with other extreme weather events, and how those might lead to complications with their health,” she said.

People who live in southeast and central Michigan experienced severe weather more than those in northern and southwest Michigan.

She says older adults may face challenges such as limited mobility or rely on health interventions, which are limited during emergencies.

“The results of this poll will show that you know, very few people are talking to their health care provider about extreme weather preparedness, but those that do really take action, and that’s especially important for people who are living with chronic disease or disability or require regular access to healthcare for a number of reasons,” she said.

The poll was taken in August 2024 before the recent California wildfires and Hurricane Helene.

Bell iterates that emergency preparedness can be thought about in smaller steps, once a week or a month, to discuss an emergency plan with loved ones, or buy a few gallons of water to store in the basement for emergencies. 

Read the full report here.

More headlines for Monday, April 14, 2025:

• The Michigan Attorney General’s office has launched a new form for residents to report social security benefit disruptions and share their experiences.
• The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is recommending that U.S. citizens be vigilant when traveling internationally, as Customs and Border Protection may want to search the electronic devices of some people coming back in the U.S.
• The city of Detroit is accepting requests from residents for tree plantings in their neighborhoods to help improve the city’s tree canopy.
• A documentary focused on pro-Palestine encampments at universities across the U.S. has come to Detroit. Screenings of “The Encampments“ will be held daily at the Bel Air Luxury Cinema, 10100 8 Mile Rd., Detroit through April 17.

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