The elderly are vulnerable and highly affected by poor IAQ, as they may be weaker and their bodies may be less able to compensate for the negative effects of air pollutants. They may also not have full control over their living environments like in elderly homes, as well not having high amounts of outdoor exercise in their lifestyles.
As people age, they may become less active and spend more time indoors, which increases their vulnerability to poor IAQ beyond regular aging. These effects may even extend beyond the respiratory system and affect the heart and brain.Poor IAQ may also cause a decline in general fitness, which prevents elderly from engaging in exercise and causing a vicious cycle.
Respiratory symptoms in the elderly are just due to aging;
these could be signs of poor IAQ
Lower ability to eliminate chemicals from the body decreases with age (health impairment), weaker immune defense in general
Personal Habits: Smoking indoor, incense burning
Less sensitive to some effects such as irritation of the eyes and nose, procrastinate treatment
accumulated lifelong exposure to pollution and other environmental conditions
The elderly are often mobility impaired, and therefore may spend most of their time indoors at home or at elderly homes. They may also not have the ability to strenuously clean their own living spaces of indoor air pollutants, such as mold.
For further reading on all aspects of air quality, we have curated a section of government reports, academic and industry studies and papers, and other in-depth materials.
![](https://hongkongcan.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Group-67.png"")
![](https://hongkongcan.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Group-69.png"")