Abstract
In the context of climate change, heatwaves will increase in frequency, duration and intensity. This presents significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups, i.e. the elderly. Heatwave adaptation/mitigation strategies are important if people implement them well; understanding the factors that influence the adoption of heat adaptation measures is key.
Numerous studies show that risk perception and individuals' capacity to act both influence adaptive behaviours, either motivating or hindering them. However, in contexts like social housing, the factors shaping these responses remain insufficiently understood. By filling a gap, his study investigates how elderly residents in a social housing district in Bolzano/Bozen (Italy) perceive and cope with heatwaves. The paper uses a case study approach and a mixed method approach to explore risk perception of residents, and the behaviours adopted during hot days to mitigate the effects of the heat.
Preliminary findings show that while residents are aware of increasing heatwave risks, they often feel uncertain or helpless about protective measures. Structural solutions like insulation and air conditioning are seen as ideal but not always accessible. Importantly, social adaptation and collective care practices emerge as crucial coping mechanisms, shaped by both physical infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions. This research contributes to understanding how vulnerability, aging, and perceived risk intersect with adaptation behaviours, guiding policymakers in the design of community-based strategies.