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A 2026 analysis in Public Policy & Aging Report says policies do not adequately address the barriers that keep older adults from staying safe during extreme heat. The authors point to costs, housing conditions and mobility limits, and call for region-specific protections and better access to cooling.
A new policy analysis says older adults face growing risks during extreme heat because existing policies often fail to address the costs, housing problems and physical barriers that can prevent people from cooling their homes or reaching help. Published in Public Policy & Aging Report, the paper argues that safe access to air conditioning requires more than having a cooling unit: people must be able to afford, maintain and use it.
The article, titled “On the Regional Spectrum of Barriers and Obstacles for Older Adults Facing Extreme Heat: Air Conditioning and Beyond,” was led by Peter Crank, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo. Its authors describe barriers including rising electricity bills, repair and replacement costs, mobility limitations, and older homes that are poorly suited to prolonged heat. The analysis also says cognitive decline can make it harder for some people to recognize a dangerous indoor temperature or respond to it.
Older adults may be more susceptible to heat because aging can reduce the body’s ability to regulate temperature. The authors also identify chronic conditions, including diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, and some commonly prescribed medications as factors that can add to risk. They cite links between extreme heat exposure and cardiovascular and respiratory problems, disrupted sleep, cognitive effects, reduced attention and mental health concerns.
The paper argues that heat protection needs differ by region. In the desert Southwest, reliable air conditioning is central to safety, but a system’s presence does not guarantee that a resident can afford to run it or keep it working. The analysis notes that some Arizona rental laws require air-conditioning systems to work and be repaired promptly, with a capacity to cool a residence to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below the outdoor temperature. Phoenix recorded 70 days at or above 110°F in 2024; the authors say that under such conditions, a home could meet that rule and still reach indoor temperatures above 90°F.
In colder-climate cities, the concern can be housing built to retain winter heat. The authors cite older Boston housing that may lack central air conditioning and trap heat during prolonged hot weather. They say indoor cooling standards and utility support for summer needs remain limited in much of the Northeast, while energy assistance has historically focused more on winter heating.
Cooling Access Is More Than Equipment
The analysis matters because it challenges a simple measure of preparedness: whether a household has an air conditioner. Affordability, maintenance and safe operation determine whether equipment provides relief. A resident on a limited income may have a unit but be unable to run it through a heat wave, pay for repairs or install a window unit without help.
Public cooling centers can provide another option, but the paper identifies practical obstacles: transportation, mobility, limited opening hours, safety concerns and lack of awareness. These constraints may be especially consequential for people who cannot travel easily or need cooling overnight. The authors’ recommendations include stronger renter protections, indoor temperature standards, expanded utility assistance, support for cooling-system repairs and replacement, and more accessible cooling centers.
The regional approach has direct policy implications. A standard or program designed for a hot desert city may not address the risks in a dense Northeastern building, while a winter-focused assistance system may leave residents without comparable help when summer bills rise. The authors argue that local climate, housing and infrastructure should shape protections, while the goal remains safe indoor temperatures for older adults.
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Different Regions, Different Heat Barriers
The paper is a policy analysis, not a report of a new clinical trial or a single heat-related incident. It reviews barriers older adults encounter and compares how climate and the built environment shape those challenges. Its focus is on the gap between general heat-safety responses and the practical conditions that determine whether an older person can stay cool.
Air conditioning and cooling centers are commonly discussed responses to heat, but the authors say access alone is not enough. Their examples contrast the Southwest, where extreme outdoor temperatures place a premium on reliable home cooling, with Northeastern cities, where older housing may retain heat and formal cooling protections are less developed. The paper frames these as distinct regional problems, not interchangeable cases.
The report was published in 2026 as extreme heat events become more frequent and severe across the United States, according to the source material. It calls for policy changes but does not set out a single national solution or quantify how many older adults are affected by each barrier.
“Air conditioning only protects people if they can afford to run it, maintain it and use it safely.”
— Amir Baniassadi, assistant scientist II at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and a co-author
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How Broad the Policy Gaps Are
The analysis describes barriers and policy shortcomings but the supplied report does not quantify their prevalence nationwide, estimate how many heat-related illnesses or deaths could be prevented by specific proposals, or compare the effects of different interventions. It also does not establish that any single policy recommendation will produce a particular health outcome.
The source material does not provide a full account of the paper’s methods or detailed measurements of indoor temperatures across the regions discussed. The Phoenix example illustrates a potential limitation of a cooling rule under extreme outdoor heat; it is not a count of homes that exceeded 90°F. The scale and local distribution of exposure remain unclear from the information provided.
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Policy Changes Remain Ahead
The authors call for stronger renter protections, clear indoor temperature standards, broader utility assistance for cooling, help maintaining or replacing cooling systems, and cooling centers that are easier to reach and use. The recommendations are presented as policy directions; the source material does not identify an adopted national plan or a specific implementation timetable.
Local and state governments will need to decide whether to change housing rules, assistance programs and emergency services, and how those measures should reflect regional conditions. Further reporting or research could clarify which interventions are being considered, how many older residents are affected, and whether proposed standards and programs improve access to safe indoor temperatures.
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Key Questions
What did the new analysis examine?
It examined financial, physical and housing barriers that can prevent older adults from staying safe during extreme heat, along with differences between regions.
Why can older adults face greater heat risks?
The analysis says aging can reduce the body’s ability to regulate temperature. Chronic conditions and some medications may add to heat-related risks, according to the authors.
Does having air conditioning guarantee protection?
No. The authors say people also need to afford electricity, maintain or repair equipment and be able to use it safely. Some homes may remain hot even when cooling systems meet a stated performance rule during extreme outdoor temperatures.
What barriers can limit access to cooling centers?
The paper identifies transportation problems, mobility limits, restricted opening hours, safety concerns and lack of awareness of available services.
What policies do the authors recommend?
They call for stronger renter protections, indoor temperature standards, expanded utility assistance, support for cooling-system upkeep and replacement, and more accessible cooling centers.
Source: rss
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