700 Section - A Multistakeholder eDelphi Consensus on Geriatric Rehabilitation for Older Chinese with Disabling Health Conditions in Contexts of Flooding

Objectives : China faces a rapidly ageing population alongside increasing flood disasters, which disproportionately affect older adults and exacerbate disabling health conditions. This study aimed to establish expert consensus on effective geriatric rehabilitation care (GRC) interventions for Chinese older adults living with flood-related disabilities, addressing a critical gap in climate-resilient healthcare planning.

Design: A two-round electronic Delphi (eDelphi) study was conducted with a multidisciplinary panel of 44 international experts, including gerontologists, rehabilitation specialists, disaster risk reduction professionals, and public health researchers. Participants rated 31 evidence-based intervention statements derived from a prior systematic review, using a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement. Statements achieving ≥50% agreement in Round 1 were retained for Round 2, where aggregated feedback was provided to refine ratings.

Results: Consensus was achieved on nine key interventions, emphasizing: (1) timely psychosocial care, (2) adequate resource allocation for rehabilitation services, and (3) enhanced social support and community participation. The highest-rated interventions focused on family and community empowerment, early psychological care, and leveraging social media for remote support. Notably, interventions related to digital health and social integration were strongly endorsed, while several clinical and infrastructural statements did not reach consensus, indicating areas for further research.

Conclusion: Expert consensus highlights the urgent need for integrated, socially-supported, and well-resourced geriatric rehabilitation strategies in flood-prone regions of China. These findings can guide policy and clinical practice to enhance climate-resilient care for ageing populations, promoting independence and social inclusion amid increasing climate-related disasters.