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Hurricanes and housing risks for older adults: Lindsay Peterson discusses at summit

Lindsay Peterson

Lindsay Peterson’s research focuses on long-term care policy, decision-making, and disaster planning for older adults. She recently created a disaster preparedness website for First Contact (formerly 211 Tampa Bay Cares), tailored to help older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers prepare for emergencies.

Lindsay Peterson, PhD, research assistant professor in the School of Aging Studies, presented at the 2025 Florida Supportive Housing Coalition Summit, held last month in Tampa, Florida.

Peterson was invited to speak on the impact of hurricanes on housing stability among older adults. Her presentation highlighted research, including her own, documenting the disproportionate effects of hurricanes on this population.

Among the studies she discussed was a paper she co-authored in JAMA Network Open titled "Evacuation and Health Care Outcomes Among Assisted Living Residents After Hurricane Irma," which found that residents of assisted living facilities who were evacuated during Hurricane Irma in 2017 were significantly more likely to be placed in nursing homes afterward compared with those who were not evacuated.

The coalition operates statewide to emphasize the critical role of stable housing in supporting individuals’ health and well-being. This year’s summit focused on hurricane recovery, resilience, and supportive housing.

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The Mission of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS) is to advance knowledge through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and service that improves the capacity of individuals, families, and diverse communities to promote productive, satisfying, healthy, and safe lives across the lifespan. CBCS envisions the college as a globally recognized leader that creates innovative solutions to complex conditions that affect the behavior and well-being of individuals, families, and diverse communities.