[Hot spot Vienna: Heat perception and protection behavior of senior citizens]

Residents of urban heat islands, particularly older adults, experience significant health impacts during heat waves. In the context of ongoing climate and demographic change, the development and implementation of adaptation strategies are essential. Thus we investigated applied adaptation strategies by senior citizens.

Four types of research areas were defined based on socio-economic factors and amount of greenery. From September to November 2011, a total of 901 individuals were surveyed on heat-related issues across four study areas in Vienna. Face-to-face interviews were carried out with residents of senior citizens' homes (≥65 years; n=200), while telephone interviews were conducted with older adults in private homes (≥65 years; n=401) and a control group (18-55 years; n=300). Additional expert interviews were conducted to identify discrepancies between recommended heat-protective behaviours and the actual practices. In a second wave two years later, older residents living in urban heat islands (≥65 years; n=200) in socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged Viennese areas were asked regarding heat symptoms and protection measures.

The most common effects of heat, regardless of age, were fatigue and sleep disturbances. While physical measures in hot weather such as drinking more fluids were taken regardless of symptoms, indoor measures increased with increasing heat-related symptoms. Outdoor strategies were used more frequently when symptoms were less severe. Overall, 70% of residents in senior citizens' homes, 66% in private households and 54% of the control group stayed mainly indoors during hot weather. In heat islands, 80% of respondents rated their homes as hot to extremely hot during a heatwave, with residents of socio-economically disadvantaged districts reporting more heat-related complaints.

Older adults who have difficulty adapting to heat are at greater risk not only for health problems but also for social isolation. Individuals most impacted by the heat tend to retreat from public spaces and stay more indoors. While this may provide some relief if it is cooler indoors, it also increases the risk of social isolation, which in turn heightens vulnerability during heat waves. Creating heat-resilient residential areas and neighbourhoods is a vital public health challenge to reduce health inequalities among older populations.