COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS

The report examines how sea level rise and coastal flooding threaten elderly populations in the U.S., particularly those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It highlights the dangers of evacuation for frail seniors, the impact of 'sunny day' flooding on access to healthcare, and the hidden financial risks to real estate equity for retirees on fixed incomes.

• Sea level rise is projected to significantly increase the number of senior care beds exposed to flooding by 2050. Florida is expected to be the most affected, with a 67% increase in beds potentially exposed, totaling over 5,900 beds across 91 facilities.
• Evacuating frail nursing home residents during emergencies often leads to higher mortality rates than sheltering in place due to the stress and physical toll of the process.
• Frequent 'nuisance' or 'sunny day' flooding can isolate seniors who age in place by blocking roads, which prevents them from attending medical appointments or accessing essential services.
• Seniors face specific physical and cognitive hazards during climate emergencies, such as the inability to hear warning sirens, difficulty using stairs in elevated homes, and increased symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease in emergency shelters.
• Climate change creates hidden financial risks for coastal retirees, as anticipated sea level rise depresses property values—with affected homes selling for an average of 7% less—and increases insurance and property taxes.
• Many seniors are unable to accurately assess their property's flood risk because federal flood plain maps are often outdated and historical flooding records for individual properties are kept confidential.

APA

Climate Central (2021). COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/2uTSDDYYYsskJ3HTAoggSo/ea1cde8e4320b4dfe695bb43a273b080/Seniors_and_SLR_-_Full.pdf

Chicago

Climate Central. COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS. 2021. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/2uTSDDYYYsskJ3HTAoggSo/ea1cde8e4320b4dfe695bb43a273b080/Seniors_and_SLR_-_Full.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS |date=2021 |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/2uTSDDYYYsskJ3HTAoggSo/ea1cde8e4320b4dfe695bb43a273b080/Seniors_and_SLR_-_Full.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentral2021coming, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{COMING STORMS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISING THREAT TO AMERICA’S COASTAL SENIORS}}, institution = {Climate Central}, year = {2021}, url = {https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/2uTSDDYYYsskJ3HTAoggSo/ea1cde8e4320b4dfe695bb43a273b080/Seniors_and_SLR_-_Full.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }