Scotland-COPE
(S-COPE) Project

What is S-COPE?

As our climate changes, periods of extreme heat are becoming more common, and have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, particularly among older adults. Changes associated with ageing, alongside health conditions, can make it more difficult to cope with high temperatures.

S-COPE research project aims to better understand how older adults in Scotland experience and respond to extreme heat. The project explores both the challenges people face and the strategies they use to stay safe, healthy, and comfortable during hot weather.

What is involved?

This project aims to collect data from 50 adults aged 60+ in the Greater Glasgow area. These participants will commit about 9 hours of time over 12 days, and complete the following:

Visit us for 2 in person sessions at the Univeristy of Strathclyde or in the community
Take part in a 10 day study at home. During this period, we will gather information about the environment (temperature and humidity), physiological responses to heat (heart rate), and ways that the individual manages hot weather through the use of brief surveys on a smartphone and images taken from the participants of heat-related experiences
Participate in focus groups to share heat related experiences and reflect on the images taken during the study period

Why this study matters

This study places value on knowkedge and lived experiences of older adults, by recognising the strategies already developed to manage and adapt to hot weather. By working collaboratively with participants, researchers are able to develope practical and realistic approches to heat preparedness. Similarly, the project can build a clearer picture of what works in real life and what additional support may be needed.

The aim is to ensure that guidance and commuity responses are shaped by the realities of everyday life, helping to improve wellbeing and saftey during period of extreme heat.

COPE-Daily (2025-2026)

The goal of COPE-Daily is to gather informaiton on what suports or prevents older adults from taking steps to protect their health during heatwaves. Over a 10-day period, participants will wear devices to track heart rate, skin tempertaure, activity levels, and environmental conditons. They will also complete a survey about how they feel and repsonded to heat in real time.

Furthermore, after the assessment period, particpants will join focus gorups to discuss and reflect on photos that they have taken of places where they experiences discomfort due to heat conditions, and these will be used to create 'heat risk' maps.

COPE-Engage (2025-2026)

The aim of the COPE-Engage project is to assess the impact of community-based programmes, policies, and strategies that have been created to aid older adults during extreme heat conditions. To assess the effectiveness and awareness of these community-based supports, focus groups will be conducted with older adults, and semi-structured interviews conducted with healthcare professionals, urban planners or local authorities, community-based service sector, and housing providers to comprehend the efficacy of existing programmes.

COPE-Co-Create Workshops (2026-2027)

COPE Co-Create involves the facilitation of a co-production workshop. Through this workshop, researchers aim to create an action plan that is supported by the collective knowledge and experience from members, including advice given from older adults, health providers, and senior staff, throughout the course of the project. Individuals from the COPE older adult advisory board, community partners, and particpants from previous and other current studies will be invited to take part in a broad discussion hosted at COPE-Co-Create.

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