2026 CRHNet Symposium

Not everyone is equally affected by wildfires. Little is known about the experiences of older adults with access and functional needs during wildfires. This study examined the needs and challenges of older adults during the 2023 wildfire evacuation in Edson, Alberta. Interviews were conducted with 21 participants, including decision-makers, service providers, older adults involved in the evacuation, and their caregivers. Nine semi-structured interviews were completed with older adults, four with their family members, and eight key informant interviews were completed with service providers, emergency first responders, and practitioners involved in carrying out the evacuation or providing support to evacuees. To recruit participants, we employed a combination of purposive, snowball, and convenience sampling to access hard-to-reach interviewees. Participants were recruited through social media, existing institutional partnerships, and using publicly available contact information. All the interviews are audio-recorded to ensure accurate data capture. Findings from this study will inform evidence-based improvement of wildfire evacuation protocols and essential services during disasters, making evacuation more sensitive to the diverse needs and challenges of older adults.