Assessing climate change risks for social care delivery in the UK

Abstract Background Risks to health and social care delivery and quality of care have been identified as an emerging risk for climate change. It is well known that older persons and persons with disabilities are at increased risk of acute mortality and emergency hospitalization from extreme weather events, such as heat and floods. In addition to the changing climate, populations are ageing leading to increased demands for social care in the future decades. Methods We reviewed the current evidence regarding the impact of climate events on social care services at home and the provision of residential care, and we reviewed current policies that address climate risks. Following the methods developed for the UK Fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment, we evaluated the evidence for future risks to social care services. Results There is robust evidence about the risks of overheating in care homes in England that will increase at the temperatures risks causing impacts on the health and wellbeing of residents. Risks of overheating are greater in older buildings. There is little systematic monitoring of flood risks to care homes, although there is considerable anecdotal evidence of damage from river and surface water flooding. Changes to social care delivery due to non-climate factors is significant, including workforce issues and funding. Currently, social care practices do not sufficiently take heat planning and prevention into account. Conclusions A risk assessment framework can incorporate climate and non-climate risks to assess the impacts of climate change. There is increasing evidence on the risks from higher temperatures on the health of older persons but a lack of information on flood risks.