Cork university course tackles climate inequality for our ageing population

University College Cork (UCC) has announced details of a new, free course aimed at tackling climate-health inequality for Ireland’s ageing population.

The course, entitled Understanding Climate Change and Its Effects on Older Persons’ Health, is the first in a new series of free, university-accredited micro-credentials being developed as part of the EU co-funded chAnGE (Climate change and healthy AgeinG) project.

The programme aims to empower healthcare and social care workers with climate resilience skills specifically tailored to older adults, a group increasingly recognised as among the most climate-vulnerable in society.

The first micro-credential is now open to enrolment and free to workers across the healthcare sector in Ireland, with further modules to follow.

UCC professor Suzanne Timmons, chAnGE project lead, said the course is about targeting frontline workers who may need additional training to assist an older person experiencing affects from climate change.

“As climate change accelerates, we’re already seeing the consequences for our ageing population, from heat stress during heatwaves to increased respiratory issues linked to air quality,” said Ms Timmons.

“Older people have less physiological resistance to temperature extremes, are more likely to have pre-existing conditions, and often live alone or in under-heated homes, and are sometimes cut-off during extreme weather events.

“The people who care for our older population every day, nurses, carers, and social workers among other healthcare staff, are rarely given the training they need to adapt," she added.

“This course is about giving them practical, accessible tools to meet that challenge - we can’t afford to wait, our frontline workers need targeted now.”