Essay: Natural adversities – disaster planning for the elderly

Natural adversities have become more frequent, costly, and threatening globally Masozera, Bailey & Kerchner (2007) postulates that the worldwide economic cost, connected to natural catastrophes, has amplified 14-fold in nearly a century. The influences of the calamities are dispersed among countries, groups, societies, and individuals due to differential exposures as well as vulnerabilities. Even so, the ability of an adversity victim to prepare for, react to and or recuperate from a catastrophe is dependent on a wide range of aspects that often go beyond a person’s immediate control. The longevity and severity of the natural disaster, effectiveness of the cautionary structures, and victim’s well-being and socioeconomic status, are some of the dynamics that influence people’s response and recovery capability in the event disaster strikes. Victims that are housebound, socially secluded or have reduced mobility are highly affected in their capacity to respond and pull through from natural adversities. Children, women, and people who rely on regular medication and special care are also highly susceptible.
The elderly is among the susceptible groups that are most likely to be hurt and succumb in a disaster. It has been reported that about 67% of those who succumbed during Hurricane Katrina were above sixty-five years of age (Masozera, Bailey & Kerchner, 2007). Furthermore, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as well as the March 2011 Japanese tsunami, the death tolls of the older adults were higher compared to those of the other vulnerable groups were. The elderly are more susceptible to chronic diseases and are more inclined to suffer cognitive, mobility, social, sensory and economic limitations in a situation of natural disaster. Such aspects impede their ability to function and adapt in disasters. While the devastating impacts that natural disasters have on environment, communities, and individuals are visually apparent, the disproportionate effects on the elderly are not.
The elderly together with their families and friends have the responsibility to deliberate for predicaments as well as catastrophes. Other communities also have the responsibility to care for and provide services to the elderly. It is worth noting that with increasing frequency catastrophes, climate change, population relocation, and aging populace, various organizations have made adversity preparation focusing on the aging population a growing concern for the disaster controlling agencies globally (Cohen et al., 2017). Emergency organizations, health care providers and resident social organizations devoted to the well-being of the elderly share in this concern. It is worth considering how the elderly population, sixty-five years and above with fixed income, are disproportionately affected by a natural disaster and the appropriate solutions that can be adopted by emergency managers.
Natural Disaster Effects on the Elderly Population
Across the world, increased economic and human costs are directly connected to the increased occurrence of natural adversities and their related damages. This global trend has been reflective of the changing climatic patterns. Based on the recent events of the Hurricane Katrina and the more than resultant 1,300 fatalities in this disaster, it is worth understanding the distribution of impacts that natural disasters have on income groups, especially the elderly population. This is because the understanding of the effects of natural disasters is critical in planning, mitigation and recovery from the natural disasters. A recent review of studies reveals that there is a correlation between poverty and adversities in the United States and that socioeconomic prominence is a significant predictor of the physical and mental effects in pre-and post-catastrophe phases (Masozera, Bailey & Kerchner, 2007).
An Individual’s vulnerability to natural disaster is determined not by the disaster itself, but rather the functions of socioeconomic conditions and circumstances. For this reason, the socioeconomic aspects create unfair exposure to the risk. Having a fixed income can restrain a socio-economic group’s capability to react effectively to adversity. Besides the elderly, groups such as minorities, unemployed, ill or handicapped and women-headed households are also affected by the socio-economic status. Income levels influence the housing status, whether rental or owned and consequently hinder individual’s capability to respond to natural tragedies. The costs of aging, as opposed to age itself, impede the elderly’s capability to respond to disaster.  This reduces their ability to take protective actions, which leads to greater injury and death rates. It is no doubt that advancing age has a direct correlation with a deterioration in mental and physical well-being functions and a higher likelihood of chronic health ailments (McEntire, 2007). These aspects increase not only physical frailty, but also vulnerability. What is more is that elderly population suffers from disabilities, which compounds their vulnerability to the effects of a disaster. Moreover, the elderly population has a greater difficulty concerning their access to and interpretation of disaster warning information, implementing protective procedures, preparation of evacuation supplies, leaving without help as well as implementing post-disaster transformation.
In addition to the physical concerns, elderly individuals have a reduced social capital, which limits their disaster resilience. Family members, friends, and neighbors communicate warnings, facilitate preparation on natural disasters, provide shelter and supplies, and offer immediate assistance and recovery aid in disaster situations. There are high chances that when elderly individuals leave the workforce, or in the cases where they have no families at home, their relations to their immediate community deteriorates. A dwindling community network reduces the sources of assistance and reduces access to disaster information. Klinenberg (2002), in his book, Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, demonstrates dramatic impacts of age and condensed social connections on the mortality rates of the elderly population all through the Chicago Wave of 1995. Kimberly reports that the elderly, particularly the fixed-income section who live unaccompanied have higher mortality rates than other demographics. This was often so in the localities with inadequate communal services and public organizations reaching out to inhabitants during the disaster.
The responsibility of the elderly population as family heads can also destabilize their resilience to adversities. Previous studies have underlined the significance of strong family ties and how they play a role concerning the fostering of tragedy pliability (McEntire, 2007). It is common that family members are always the primary basis of support during adversities. Varying family associations across cultures shows that the roles of the aging adults in times of tragedy may vary. Young family members may view the elderly as family supporters and a source for financial aid and emotional evacuation during periods of disaster. People usually expect that parents, grandparents, and family elders will be reliably as sources of monetary support during times of emergency. By assuming this role places stress on the elderly, especially those living on fixed budgets. This stress is largely due to the expectations for them to offer emotional support and housing provisions to their younger family members.
When adversity strikes, an increasing number of the elderly population congregate at care settings such as the nursing homes. Cherniack (2008) posits that this divulges the need for well-thought-out evacuation measures to facilitate the well-being of the aging populations. In terms of disaster planning, the elderly requires special considerations in terms of disaster planning, such as evacuation resources like ambulances and clinically equipped vehicles in addition to access to medical and other supplies. Emergency evacuation in times of adversities can be challenging and often contribute to greater mortality rates amongst populations like the elderly. Even smooth evacuations can upsurge the possibility for premature death amongst the elderly population. However, just like other susceptible groups, the elderly have previously offered valuable capabilities in catastrophic circumstances. The elderly who have retired from the labor force often devote time in volunteering initiatives. Volunteers in times of disasters represent a vital link between recognized government response organizations and the informal community capitals. Many government social services have been transferred to private entities like faith-based organizations with many volunteers continuing to assume greater responsibility to aid in the provision of emergency management. Volunteers are more likely to be older and have retired since volunteering requires significant time and resources to take part in the emergency management.
Overall, the elderly is very crucial in emergency response work through communal organizations, exclusively in rural communities. For instance, in Texas, individuals over the age of 65 comprised a significant part of a rural population and actively took part in long-term recovery efforts. The elderly are a significant part of the exclusive volunteers of emergency organizations.
Recommended Strategies
Having discussed why the aging population is susceptible and how they are affected by natural disasters, it is worth considering the steps and strategies that can be implemented to address these vulnerabilities. Just as the focus has been directed to the incorporation of emergency management for disaster assistance, the same needs to be done at the micro level. This encompasses the personal, agency, and the community development of responsibility for individual alertness. Individual level considerations include the elderly, their families, and friends. It is paramount to encourage self-sufficiency among the elderly population just like it should be with the other vulnerable groups. Equally the same, it is crucial to avoid the actions and procedures that disempower them in times of adversity. Even though the elderly have fixed income, it does not compare to having any resources at all.
Valuable lessons can be learned from the Japan crisis management system used during the Great Japan Earthquake and tsunami that occurred in in 2011. With a population of more than 127 million and densely populated cities, the country’s response to the constant earthquake threats make it a pioneer in crisis management (Zaré & Afrouz, 2012). About one-in-three residents in the areas of Japan worst hit by the disaster are more than 65 years old (Harney,2011). Tohoku has a comprehensive crisis management plan that includes not only the frail elderly, but all vulnerable populations. The crisis management plan is comprised of standards established by the Central Council…. for instantaneous response to all unanticipated occurrences in the country. This plan aids affected individuals, government, and emergency organizations to understand what to do during an accident.
The elderly need to be prepared and empowered to care for themselves. In addition, it is important to remind them and their families about the significance of preparedness. The frail elderly are part of the special needs population, and have a lesser amount of ability than other vulnerable groups to react to the stress that occurs in times of catastrophes (Sugano, 2016). The family and the caretakers are encouraged to take care of this vulnerable population. In the event the family cannot provide adequate disaster preparedness, there should be a plan in place for an agency to assume these responsibilities. This entails the prospect of the full-time home based care to include the custodial relationship where the caregivers can be able to protect themselves and the elderly. Concern for the elderly during times of adversities should be accentuated to the protective relationship in the event the family cannot shoulder responsibility for wide-ranging readiness. Nonetheless, emergency management specialist can impose the following approaches for further consideration.
Another recommendation is something that the Central for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has used in the past. States and localities can use CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a random, digit-dialed telephone survey of non- institutionalized adults, to collect data on health conditions, treatments, supplies of medicines on hand, and access to health services or treatment facilities. The BRFSS can be used during the mitigation phase to collect data from the elderly population to get information about the medicine that they are taking, special service they may need, mobility, and income. Using this information can be used to enhance the evacuation efforts and response phases if a disaster were to occur. Florida used this system after Hurricane Charley struck in 2004. CDC provided population maps for the three most- damaged counties to help workers identify and interview almost 600 households with an older adult. In one Florida county, one-third of the households with a chronically ill older adult reported that at least one of the older person’s conditions had worsened because of the hurricane, and 28 percent reported that an older adult was unable to receive routine care for a preexisting condition (CDC,2006). In the previous example, BRFSS was used in the recovery phase of the storm but this would be a lot more effective if this information was gathered before the storm.
Personal Strategies
There is a need to further inform the elderly population about the importance of readiness and effective response during situations of natural disasters. Conceivably, one of the paramount capitals for the elderly concerning the occurrence of natural disasters is self-preparedness. Emergency managers can develop disaster checklists and other educational materials to develop and distribute to the elderly, their friends, and families through society-based service establishments, social networks, and healthcare service providers. An example of this material would include a checklist of items that will last an individual up to 72 hours. Items such as water, cash, 3-day supply of medicine, flashlight, first aid kit, and a cellphone etc.  In the event of an adversity occurrence, public service publications can prompt the community to be concerned of their elderly neighbors and aid where possible (Fernandez, Byard, Lin, Benson & Barbera, 2002). For instance, during the tragedies of the Hurricane Katrina, there were reported cases where information was availed to provide evacuation services due to the approaching hurricane. Of note, however, is that the target for education should be the elderly and involve their family and friends on matters of emergency preparedness planning and evacuation procedures. Another great example of getting residents involved in looking after the older population occurred in Iowa when the Cedar River flood waters began to rise. Most residents could see the impending danger and safely evacuate their homes. Donna, who is a blind elderly woman living in a secluded part of town did not realize that her basement was flooded. Since she does not watch the news, she was unaware of the upcoming dangers. When the fire department came to knock on the door to see if anyone was living there, she was suspicious of the men that was asking her to leave her home. It wasn’t until Janna Diehl, from the Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, came to talk to her that Donna realized she was in danger and needed to go (Silver, 2012).
Community and Agency Strategies
Emergency managers should identify present preparation and readiness capital in available for emergencies. An entire overhaul of the services offered to support the elderly is not recommended. Rather, emergency administrators should place an emphasis on leveraging the services delivered by prevailing establishments and create sensitization regarding emergency issues. The entities such as nursing programs, church-based service groups and special needs transportation can come in handy concerning pre-disaster needs. Transportation is important because we will not be able to stop a disaster from occurring but we can get residents of the community out of harm’s way. During Hurricane Katrina, evacuation services were put in place but were not followed through. According to the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 67% of the people who died during Hurricane Katrina were 65 and older. This shows how important evacuation is and that evacuation efforts and education should start with the elderly and disabled population. Along with transportation, Memorandum of Understanding should be set up with areas in other communities and with health care facilities to take these individuals in.  It is important to incorporate disaster planning standards into the above-noted strategies. For instance, China has advanced emergency response and technically equipped systems constructed at the central and provincial level (Olson & Wu, 2010). This has included the collaboration of the earthquake emergency response with the various entities at the grassroots level with the intention to share personnel, technology, and equipment in the event catastrophe strikes.
Property management firms, retirement communities and utility firms often keep lists of Life Support Equipment (LSE) customers as well as lists of special needs residents that can be vital in not just emergency preparedness but equally in times of disasters (Fernandez, Byard, Lin, Benson & Barbera, 2002). Therefore, the best strategy is to use the resources and the agencies that are already in place, and to direct them towards serving the elderly population. If appropriately involved and connected into the emergency management system, they can provide proper support in the identification of the older adults who are at risk. This will be in addition to assisting throughout the risk evaluation phase of readiness, along with the development of the readiness procedures. Having an effective surveillance system through these organizations not only encourage initial needs documentation, but also offer an assessment of the efficiency of response involvements. Other efforts may include the development of a registry to permit the aging population and their caregivers to avail personal information. This may include listing medical and additional requirements into the database that can be later linked to potential emergency service providers.
Disaster Continuity Capabilities
Emergency managers and staff can support emergency-based organizations in mitigation and preparedness by developing improved support capabilities. This can be achieved through the identification of hazard vulnerabilities, ensuring continued capability throughout the disaster incident, providing technical and financial assistance to maintain operations, and developing procedures to facilitate the improvement of the organization’s recovery from the incident. Emergency planners should also integrate agreements with the transportation service with providers to provide specialized automobiles that are essential for the transportation of the medically fragile individuals and the disabled. There should be the contracting of care facilities outside of the service areas where displaced residents are taken if the affected care facilities are compromised in the disastrous incident. When the movement of the elderly is limited, there is increased likely hood that elderly would survive without suffering potential life-threatening stress and physical injury. There should be systematic and official communication between the emergency organization and the resident elderly groups together with congregate care amenities to progress the emergency readiness.
Finally, volunteer organizations and emergency management organizations should deliberate on various approaches upon which skills and capacities of the elderly population can be used to support the recovery and resilience efforts. It is without a doubt that community elders have time, knowledge and resources to support various community organizations to become even more resilient. Through the cooperation, they can as well consider leadership roles in the event adversity strikes. Proper leadership during such times ensures effective communication between vulnerable populations and the emergency management, improving the capacity of the disaster management organizations (Cherniack, 2008).
Conclusion
In events of natural disasters, consideration should be given to the special needs of the vulnerable populations. Natural disasters such as forest fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes can be large scale and increase morbidity and mortality as a result. Other disasters of localized and small extent including mudslides and tornadoes, can lead to physical injuries, loss of life, emotional distress and property damages. The elderly is one of the most defenseless populations, and are highly vulnerable to many hazards and consequences of disastrous nature. Through various emergency management approaches, emergency managers can tackle the needs of the elderly in an economical, wide-ranging and sustainable manner. Approaches to address such elderly vulnerabilities include creating awareness, promoting self-preparedness and educating the elderly, their family and friends for emergency preparedness and response. Of note in the recommended solution is the integration of the special concerns of the elderly population into the overall emergency managing system to make certain that the structures, resources, actions, and standards are premeditated to meet the needs of the elderly population.