Friends Matter in This Age of Climate Change

Climate change disproportionately affects older adults because they are more susceptible to illness related to extreme heat and poor air quality, have difficulty evacuating during disasters and one-third of them live alone.

In her book "Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation," Danielle Arigoni, managing director of policy and solutions at the National Housing Trust, highlights the importance of having a strong social infrastructure to build community-wide resilience for older adults as more of them experience the impacts of climate change.

At the same time, the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy just released an advisory on loneliness and isolation that concluded social connection is correlated with community safety, population health, and resilience — concerns related to dealing with the effects of climate change like stronger storms, wildfires and heat waves.

As the climate crisis and loneliness epidemic intersect, the urgency to build resilience through a strong social network is more critical than ever, especially for people age 50 and above who are at greater risk under these conditions. Having a strong social network not only saves lives during a natural disaster, it can also help people better manage the emotional turmoil of anticipating climate-related events and enduring the aftermath.

Learn why connecting with others helps build resilience and how to develop your own social network to stay healthy and safe during this volatile age of climate change.

As news about climate change becomes more prevalent, so does climate anxiety. Also referred to as eco-anxiety, eco-grief or climate grief, it is the chronic fear of environmental doom and the mental distress associated with worsening environmental conditions, according to the American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica, a nonprofit group working to motivate people to take action against climate change.

"Climate anxiety is a normal human response to what we are experiencing with our changing climate," explains Meg Mattingly, licensed professional counselor at Willow Tree Collective specializing in climate anxiety. "Climate anxiety . . . encompasses this experience that we're all feeling with either directly being impacted by natural disasters or the fear of what's coming."

To address climate anxiety, Mattingly and others say we need to build resilience — the ability to function, survive and even thrive in the face of adversity. In a groundbreaking report, "Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Inequities, Responses," experts from the American Psychological Association, Climate for Health and ecoAmerica highlight how people can better withstand traumas when they are connected to a strong social network. Having people to provide emotional support, relay critical information and help with basic needs like food and shelter is essential for both physical and mental well-being.

Socializing is good for our health and happiness, and being connected to others helps people get through difficult times. The Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest study on human flourishing, found a strong correlation between relationships and well-being. "We are all relational beings and are wired for connection," says Mattingly. "I think isolation feeds this anxiety and so many of us can (start) feeling like we're alone in this."

For people over age 50, the lack of social connections can be even more detrimental because older adults often are simultaneously dealing with age-related issues like retirement, loss of purpose, living away from family, illness, and the deaths of friends and loved ones. "I see great benefit for folks over 50 who need that life force of being with other people and sharing that experience, sharing those feelings, being in community to know they are not the only one holding this," notes Mattingly.

There are also practical benefits of having a social network during a crisis. "There's a presumption that the public safety or emergency responders will be there to backstop people when they need help, but the reality is that kind of support isn't always going to be as readily available as people often think," warns Arigoni. "It's really important that people turn to other networks to help relieve some of the needs that they might have in this new climate future."

Various studies, such as those looking at Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the Chicago heat wave in 1996, show how a strong community helped older adults fare better during and after a disaster. In addition, researchers at Tufts University partnered with the local nonprofit Communities Responding to Extreme Weather to examine social connectedness in relation to climate resilience. They found that the more connected people were to their communities, the more likely they were to be aware of helpful resources and services during a weather event.

No matter where you live or how much you enjoy socializing, it is imperative to build a solid social network. Arigoni acknowledges that it takes effort, but she also urges everyone to commit to doing this. "You have to put yourself out there," she says. "It's not just good for making friends and feeling connected, it really is going to make a difference when it comes to the day when you need some help."

Here are a few ideas to help you get started on building your social network:

Something as simple as striking up a friendship with your neighbors can literally be the difference between life and death in a crisis. "Make the effort to get to know the people around you," Arigoni recommends. "Literally knock on their door. Don't wait until the emergency hits to get to know them." Some ideas: host an open house, organize a block party or sit on your front porch or balcony and greet passers-by.

Arigoni suggests joining local organizations to connect with others, both in-person and online. Some are more formal than others, she says, but they are all useful in creating social networks, particularly for older adults. This may involve anything from joining a book club to attending a house of worship to volunteering. Local libraries are good places to meet people, as many offer book readings, lectures, classes, technology demos and concerts.

Spending time outdoors with others is another climate anxiety antidote, since nature helps us feel happier and calmer. Join a walking or biking group, garden club, local Audubon chapter, or a league for a sport like pickleball or softball.

Kim Moldofsky, an empty nester in her mid-50s, joined her local Go Green group and quickly became a leader. "On my first leadership call, my heart warmed from hearing from a dozen folks in the area . . . doing various actions [on climate]. It helped me not feel as anxious because I realized . . . I'm not alone. When you join together with others, it's easier to see a bigger vision and have more hope that change could actually happen."

She went on to host a compost-palooza event and pancake breakfast using an energy-efficient induction cook pad, bringing neighbors together. "That was a great opportunity to not only educate people but build community," she notes. "Some of those relationships have turned into friendships."

While it's beneficial to get outside when you can, it's also important to have ways to socialize even when the weather isn't cooperating. Rising heat and declining air quality associated with climate change pose a huge risk to the social life of people 50 and over. Those who heed warnings to stay indoors on days with a high heat index or poor air quality miss out on regular walks and rounds of golf with friends. Keep a balanced social plan by including indoor activities like card games, movie nights, lunches and dinners with friends, Zoom calls and indoor sports like bowling.

As climate change progresses, we need to be mindful of the amenities that facilitate connectedness where we live. "Thinking about how that's going to enable you to connect with other people is as important — if not more so — than your well-being as an older adult," suggests Arigoni.

Communities with social programming are a great way to stay connected, she explains, because they automatically put people in close proximity to others. For example, apartment buildings with a community room provide a convenient place for people to congregate.

There's no better way to beat loneliness and climate anxiety than joining an organization focused on climate advocacy. Finding meaning through a personal passion helps build resilience. According to the Aging & Climate Change Clearinghouse at Cornell University, older people experience a need to preserve the world for future generations.

Look into groups addressing the climate crisis like All We Can Save Network, Climate Café, Climate Reality Project, and Sierra Club. There are even climate action groups set up especially for people aged 50 and above, such as Elders Climate Action, Friends of the Earth's BOLD Climate Action, and Third Act.

Dan Quinlan has been working on the intersection of climate change and human health for the past decade. Struggling with his own climate grief led him to Third Act, a community of Americans over 60 determined to change the world for the better. He quickly learned the importance of community for his own well-being and the planet's.

"It's about taking small steps as part of a community. As that community comes together to get stuff done . . . toward a greater goal, I find it hugely gratifying. I've been able to move from a mindset of a lot of grief to a lot of joy. When I get on those phone calls . . . I just am energized." A big part of that connection is that they are all elders who want to leave a legacy for their children.

"A huge part of this work is how we connect with others," Mattingly says. It can be helpful to find people with whom you can discuss your climate anxiety, whether that is an individual therapist, a therapy group or an organization set up for this purpose like Good Grief Network. The Climate Psychology Alliance has compiled a directory of therapists specializing in climate anxiety.

Sandi Schwartz is the award-winning author of Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer and a freelance journalist specializing in home and garden, nature, sustainability. and wellness. She has been published in AARP, Yahoo News, Dwell, Success, Mother Earth News, mindbodygreen, Family Handyman, BobVila.com, and many other publications.
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