Disasters and the Elderly Langer:

Disasters and the Elderly

Langer:

Changing family patterns, with those who might otherwise be caregivers living too far away from elderly relatives to be able to help in an emergency; or who do not have such relatives. Elderly people of color are less likely to use support services.

Elderly members of minorities grew up during a time of institutionalized discrimination and often do not trust authorities and agencies. Such agencies are all too often indifferent to or unaware of cultural differences and how to address them. Because they have not used such services in the past they may not know how to use them effectively during or after an emergency. As people age they cope with the changes long life brings in different ways, and their coping mechanisms may affect how well they make use of available social supports. They typically do not seek help themselves, so if they have no support network they may go without needed help. Men are more likely to forego help than women. Transportation can be a barrier. They may deny that they need any help. They may not know how to contact agencies. Language can be a barrier. They may not know help is available. The services needed may be inadequate or absent. Older people sometimes don't answer their door if they are not expecting someone, making it harder for helpers to reach people in need.

a. This pattern might not be called cyclical. There are patterns but they relate to age and related social circumstances.

3. Help for elderly in need include Meals on Wheels, "gatekeepers" who stay alert to spotting those in possible need, volunteer programs staffed by senior citizens, and support groups.

a. Those resources reach into the lives and neighborhoods of elderly people in need and may be more successful than support programs that the elders in need have to seek out themselves.

b. Which resource do you think would be most helpful?

Meals on Wheels" can help some elderly people stay in their own homes and in their "comfort zones" - their known neighborhoods. They are likely to relate well to programs staffed by people similar to themselves, so senior volunteers might be very effective.

Kilijanek & Drabek:

1. This study was a quasi-experimental study of the effects of a major tornado one subset of the affected population - the elderly

2. The research looked at the impact of natural disaster on different segments of society; compared types of loss with four age groups in the affected area; which groups made use of available aid, both personal and external; compared victim and non-victim groups; and looked at the effects of the disaster on the physical and mental health of victims.

3. 33% of the older victims reported losing items of sentimental value, things that represented the spans of their lives, such as landscaping, which many had put years of effort into.

4. It means that different groups responded to the question in markedly different ways, resulting in a curved line reflecting those different levels.

5. Victims over the age of 60 were markedly less likely to receive help.

6. People with lower incomes were more likely to receive aid, especially from religious organizations