The Elderly in The Context of Energy Poverty

Abstract

While multiple papers under the category of energy have taken the ageing population into account, few have studied the well-being of the elderly specifically with depth. This paper reviews studies with regard to energy poverty, health and the elderly in recent years in order to highlight the profound relationship between the health of seniors and energy poverty which makes the elimination of energy poverty might be the key to achieving healthy ageing. The paper found energy poverty can influence the physical, mental and cognitive health of seniors mostly via poor housing conditions. When seniors live in regions where energy poverty is common, their conditions can be exacerbated by the lack of access to healthcare services of good quality and on time, especially during extreme weather. Regarding policies, there yet exist one that capable of solving the problem, and there still lacks a measure to monitor the well-being of older people more closely and directly. In the face of a series of challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis induced by the Ukraine-Russia war and climate change, professionals in the field of public health and energy must collaborate for the welfare of the aged population in the future.