Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionate... more Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionately affecting low-income older adults and people of color. Exposure factors, such as living in rental housing and lack of air conditioning, and sensitivity factors, such as chronic disease and social isolation, increase mortality risk among older adults. Older persons face multiple barriers to adaptive heat mitigation, particularly those living in historically temperate climates. This study measures two heat vulnerability indices to identify areas and individuals most vulnerable to extreme heat and discusses opportunities to mitigate vulnerability among older adults. Research Design and Methods We constructed two heat vulnerability indices for the Portland, OR, metropolitan area: one using area scale proxy measures extracted from existing regional data and another at the individual scale using survey data collected following the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome event. These indices were a...
We are living in an urban era. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, char... more We are living in an urban era. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, characterized by globalized markets flowing in a rush of competition for power, influence and resources. In the shadows of this urban intensification, remain those left on the margins. In the context of Japan, one of the most urbanized countries in the world, the struggle to maintain economic power on the international stage has led to demographic and physical decline for much of the country. With a declining population and a ”super-aging society,” these challenges translate to a landscape of decay outside of the Tokyo megalopolis and other urban agglomerations of the Tokaido region. Vacant buildings pepper the landscape with their overgrown and ominous presence, reminding passersby of times long gone. This photo essay/poster explores the socio-political landscape of depopulating Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. With the oldest average age, the highest suicide rate and a shrinking populat...
Background and Objectives As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather events, olde... more Background and Objectives As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather events, older adults face disproportionate impacts, including having the highest mortality rates from storms, wildfires, flooding, and heat waves. State governments are critical in deploying local resources to help address climate change impacts. This policy study analyzes states’ climate adaptation plans to assess the methods through which they address the impact of climate change on older adults. Research Design and Methods This study uses content analysis to analyze available climate change adaptation plans for all U.S. states for strategies designed to increase resilience of older adults to impacts of climate change. Results Nineteen states have climate adaptation plans, of which 18 describe older adults as a population group with specific health impacts and risks factors. Four categories of adaptation strategies for older adults include communications, transportation, housing, and emergency ser...
Background and Objectives Assisted living (AL) constitutes an important sector of residential lon... more Background and Objectives Assisted living (AL) constitutes an important sector of residential long-term care, yet there has been limited research about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this setting. This qualitative study sought to understand the impact of the early stages of the pandemic (February–August 2020) from AL administrators’ perspectives. Research Design and Methods Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 40 AL administrators in Oregon. A stratified sampling method emphasizing rurality, profit status, Medicaid acceptance, and memory care designation was used to maximize variation in perspectives. We asked 8 questions aimed at understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their roles and AL residents and their families, as well as AL operations, such as staffing and resource procurement. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative thematic analysis. Results We identified 3 themes that charact...
Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionate... more Background and Objectives Extreme heat is an environmental health equity concern disproportionately affecting low-income older adults and people of color. Exposure factors, such as living in rental housing and lack of air conditioning, and sensitivity factors, such as chronic disease and social isolation, increase mortality risk among older adults. Older persons face multiple barriers to adaptive heat mitigation, particularly those living in historically temperate climates. This study measures two heat vulnerability indices to identify areas and individuals most vulnerable to extreme heat and discusses opportunities to mitigate vulnerability among older adults. Research Design and Methods We constructed two heat vulnerability indices for the Portland, OR, metropolitan area: one using area scale proxy measures extracted from existing regional data and another at the individual scale using survey data collected following the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome event. These indices were a...
We are living in an urban era. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, char... more We are living in an urban era. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, characterized by globalized markets flowing in a rush of competition for power, influence and resources. In the shadows of this urban intensification, remain those left on the margins. In the context of Japan, one of the most urbanized countries in the world, the struggle to maintain economic power on the international stage has led to demographic and physical decline for much of the country. With a declining population and a ”super-aging society,” these challenges translate to a landscape of decay outside of the Tokyo megalopolis and other urban agglomerations of the Tokaido region. Vacant buildings pepper the landscape with their overgrown and ominous presence, reminding passersby of times long gone. This photo essay/poster explores the socio-political landscape of depopulating Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. With the oldest average age, the highest suicide rate and a shrinking populat...
Background and Objectives As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather events, olde... more Background and Objectives As climate change drives more frequent and intense weather events, older adults face disproportionate impacts, including having the highest mortality rates from storms, wildfires, flooding, and heat waves. State governments are critical in deploying local resources to help address climate change impacts. This policy study analyzes states’ climate adaptation plans to assess the methods through which they address the impact of climate change on older adults. Research Design and Methods This study uses content analysis to analyze available climate change adaptation plans for all U.S. states for strategies designed to increase resilience of older adults to impacts of climate change. Results Nineteen states have climate adaptation plans, of which 18 describe older adults as a population group with specific health impacts and risks factors. Four categories of adaptation strategies for older adults include communications, transportation, housing, and emergency ser...
Background and Objectives Assisted living (AL) constitutes an important sector of residential lon... more Background and Objectives Assisted living (AL) constitutes an important sector of residential long-term care, yet there has been limited research about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this setting. This qualitative study sought to understand the impact of the early stages of the pandemic (February–August 2020) from AL administrators’ perspectives. Research Design and Methods Semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 40 AL administrators in Oregon. A stratified sampling method emphasizing rurality, profit status, Medicaid acceptance, and memory care designation was used to maximize variation in perspectives. We asked 8 questions aimed at understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their roles and AL residents and their families, as well as AL operations, such as staffing and resource procurement. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative thematic analysis. Results We identified 3 themes that charact...
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Papers by Jacklyn Kohon