Warming Planet's Impact on Aging Population: Philadelphia's Preparations for Senior Support
In the sweltering summer heat of Philadelphia, the city is taking steps to address heat-related health risks among seniors, particularly those in low-income and urban heat island areas.
During the extreme heat condition in June, the city's Department of Public Health reported five heat-related deaths and declared a three-day heat health emergency. The city's heat vulnerability index map, which highlights areas with little tree cover and lots of cement, shows that residents like Blanca Maldonado, who lives in one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods, are at a higher risk of heat-related illnesses.
Blanca, an 84-year-old resident of the Kensington section of Philadelphia, experienced extreme heat in late July, nearing triple digits, and does not have an air conditioning unit in her house. Cooler evenings give the body a reprieve from the stresses of severe daytime heat, but if overnight temperatures remain above 75 degrees, our bodies don't get that relief, potentially leading to heat-related illnesses and mortality.
The city's strategy to protect seniors in these areas involves a combination of expanding accessible cooling spaces, community outreach informed by heat vulnerability data, addressing urban heat island effects through environmental improvements, and public health heat emergency protocols.
The city is increasing the number of air-conditioned community spaces such as libraries and recreation centers that serve as cooling centers during extreme heat events. These networks are crucial for seniors who lack access to adequate cooling at home, particularly in neighborhoods like Hunting Park that experience higher heat due to factors like aging housing, fewer trees, and more concrete.
Philadelphia utilizes heat vulnerability maps to identify and prioritize neighborhoods most burdened by heat. Outreach efforts include direct community engagement to provide information and support to seniors and vulnerable populations during heat emergencies.
Many of the most at-risk populations live in designated Environmental Justice Areas with high poverty rates, older housing stock, and language barriers. The city’s initiatives prioritize these communities to reduce disparities in heat exposure and health risks.
Low-income neighborhoods often have features that exacerbate heat, such as dark roofs and limited green space. Efforts to mitigate these effects include planting trees and increasing green infrastructure to lower neighborhood temperatures over time.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) increasingly declares heat emergencies during periods of high heat and humidity to trigger responses and alert vulnerable residents, emphasizing the risks to seniors who face higher morbidity and mortality during heat waves.
Urban heat islands in Philadelphia, such as where Maldonado lives, drive up temperatures by at least 9 degrees Fahrenheit for more than half a million people, according to a 2024 analysis by Climate Central.
Unfortunately, federal aid for those who desperately need assistance with energy bills is set to be limited by the recently passed federal budget. The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) does not provide funds to help keep electricity on in the summer for cooling. Last year, increased demand from data centers and AI spurred a jump in prices across the Mid-Atlantic region that led to a 38 percent increase in electric shutoffs compared to last year.
Philadelphia is not alone in facing these challenges. Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death of Americans, according to the EPA and the National Weather Service. Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense, with last year being the hottest year on record, according to NOAA.
The city is also responding to the broader public health crisis by integrating heat risk management with community resilience and emergency preparedness planning. If you have questions or topics about climate change you'd like to know more about, we invite you to share them with us.
During heat health emergencies, the city of Philadelphia opens cooling centers at libraries that stay open later and operates a heat line in conjunction with the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. The story is part of the News Climate Desk on the website.
Science plays a critical role in understanding the impact of climate change on health-and-wellness, particularly in urban areas like Philadelphia, where environmental-science studies have shown that urban heat islands can drive up temperatures by as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit. To protect seniors and vulnerable populations from heat-related illnesses, the city is leveraging scientific data to identify heat vulnerability areas, prioritize community outreach, and enhance green infrastructure like tree planting to mitigate heat and improve air quality.
