Dr. Zalon on 'Preparing older citizens for global climate change'

According to a 2019 article in American Nurse Today by Margarete Zalon, Ph.D., RN, a nursing professor at The University of Scranton, as the effects of climate change are increasing, older citizens are impacted
Dr. Zalon on 'Preparing older citizens for global climate change'

This article originally appeared in Challenges, the Panuska College of Professional Studies' newsletter.

According to a 2019 article in American Nurse Today by Margarete Zalon, Ph.D., RN, a nursing professor at The University of Scranton, as the effects of climate change are increasing, older citizens are impacted. "For example, heat waves have included death tolls in the thousands (Europe, 2003, 71,310; Russia, 2010, 55,736; Europe, 2006, 3,418; India, 1998, 2,541 and 2015, 1,826+) that disproportionately affected older adults."

In a recent issue of Challenges, the PCPS newsletter, she laid out why she felt it was timely and important to publish her article "Preparing older citizens for global climate change:"

I wrote this article because of the need to address challenges due to global climate change faced by older people. They are more likely to experience adverse consequences of hot and cold weather extremes due to changes in physiological reserve. In addition, older people may be more vulnerable because of limitations in mobility and inadequate resources. I wanted to call attention to what nurses can do, starting with their own families, their communities and the workplace, with regard to policies that can mitigate the underlying causes of climate change and institute preventive efforts to reduce its impact on health.

Dr. Zalon's area of expertise is in adult/gerontological nursing. She is also the director of the online master of science in health informatics program at the University. She teaches adult health nursing in the undergraduate and graduate program, professional issues for registered nurses returning to school, and nursing research for graduate and doctoral students. Dr. Zalon's research has focused on pain management and vulnerable elders. She has received funding from the American Nurses Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. 

Read the article in American Nurse Today, here.

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