Care to Chat Wrap Up: Climate change and emergency preparedness

In 2023, wildfires forced the evacuation of 900 long-term care and assisted living residents in West Kelowna, placing many vulnerable seniors at greater risk of various health complications. As climate change continues to threaten the safety of older adults through extreme climate events such as these, many are wondering how we can protect those living in care settings. That is why BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) brought its popular Care to Chat series to Kelowna on May 12, 2025, for an urgent and timely discussion on the growing impact of climate change on seniors’ care.

Moderated by Sharon Cook, Chief Nursing Officer and VP Quality Assurance with Park Place Seniors Living, this panel featured top provincial experts in climate science, seniors’ healthcare and emergency preparedness:

– Dr. Silvina Mema, Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health
– Sue Gardner Clark, Director, Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) (Interior), Provincial Health Services Authority
– Dr. Chris Buse, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
– Melanie Reinhardt, Director of Operations, Baptist Housing

Panelists collectively began the discussion emphasizing the importance of working together to plan, prepare and share resources during climate emergencies to protect seniors who are at a higher risk due to climate events.

Notably, Dr. Mema provided findings from her research on evacuations and sheltering in place. Her study found that seniors evacuated due to wildfires had higher emergency department visits and hospitalizations within 30–90 days. While the results indicate that sheltering in place when safe and feasible is preferred, Dr. Mema stated that officials ultimately must consider numerous factors like fire proximity, air quality, and infrastructure capabilities of their residences to make the best call for their communities.

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On an operational level, panelists offered numerous practical strategies to potentially alleviate challenges during extreme weather events. These include hydration stations, shaded outdoor areas, air scrubbers, and locally sourced food to mitigate supply chain issues.

At the provincial level, Clark and Dr. Mema explained how emergency response is coordinated across various provincial ministries, regional health authorities, emergency services and HEMBC. They also highlighted the need for effective, regular and timely communication with residents and their families.

Mental health and psychological stress were also considered, with panelists suggesting that operators can implement psychological debriefings, moral support, and inclusive organizational cultures where leaders are at the forefront of operations during emergencies as to ensure staff’s mental health is also prioritized.

The discussion concluded with recommendations for operators, such as having various plans for evacuation, sheltering-in-place, personal preparedness, and repatriation, as well as templates for communication with families and guidelines for emergencies.

For resources on emergency preparedness in long-term care and assisted living, click the links below:

To learn more and for resources on emergency preparedness for long-term care and assisted living, visit BCCPA’s resource page here.

WATCH via Global News BC: Experts discuss emergency preparedness for seniors in care

Thank you to our Season 12 Care to Chat sponsors who have made these conversations possible.