Appraising ageing in place attributes and wellbeing of elders in the tropics

Abstract

The concurrence of demographic shifts and warming climate raises heightened concerns for the well-being of older adults residing in tropical regions. Climate change-induced heat waves pose a significant threat to indoor thermal comfort, especially for elderly individuals striving to age in place, who often prefer staying indoors. Thus, there is an urgent need to investigate the indoor thermal environment of elderly households, particularly in low-income communities. The study adopts an integrated approach, encompassing both broad-scale spatial analyses and detailed field investigations, to explore the thermal comfort, skin temperature profiles, and overall thermal well-being of young elders (60 – 74 years) dwelling in single-story masonry and timber residences. Spatial analyses were conducted using ArcMap and satellite imagery to assess the thermal landscape, utilising indices such as the UTFVI, LST, NDBI, and NDVI. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken through a questionnaire survey and personalized exposure assessment involving 150 participants in Mattakuliya, located in the western province of Sri Lanka. The findings reveal, worse urban thermal comfort in Mattakuliya, with indoor environments characterised by elevated daytime temperatures in the range 30°C - 40°C. Resulting in higher predicted mean vote, and mean skin temperatures ranging from 33°C to 39°C, surpassing the neutral temperature of 30.4°C. DesignBuilder simulations suggest inclusion of passive features can drastically bring down the indoor air temperature with natural ventilation alone. Moreover, participants in this study reported grappling with various noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes, and high blood pressure as part of the aging process. The adverse effects of extreme heat exacerbate these symptoms and complications, underscoring the urgent need to address the thermal challenges faced by this vulnerable group. Keywords: Ageing in place, indoor overheating, infrared thermography, thermal comfort, tropics