Disaster Public Health and Older People

Disaster Public Health and Older People PDF Author: Emily Ying Yang Chan
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351127608
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
Disaster Public Health and Older People introduces professionals, students and fieldworkers to the science and art of promoting health and well-being among older people in the context of humanitarian emergencies, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income country settings. Older people face specific vulnerabilities in physical, mental and social well-being during disasters. They are likely to experience socio-economic marginalisation, isolation, inaccessible information and a lack of relevant post-emergency support services. Meanwhile, although older people can also significantly contribute to disaster preparedness, response and recovery, their capacities are often under-utilised. Drawing on a range of global case studies, this book provides readers with a theoretical underpinning, while suggesting actions at the individual, community and national levels to reduce the health risks to older people posed by the increasing frequency and intensity of disaster, in particular those resulting from natural hazards. Topics covered range from the health impact of disasters on older people and response to their post-disaster health needs, to disaster preparedness, disease prevention, healthy ageing, global policy developments and the contributions of older people in disaster contexts. This book draws on lessons learnt from previous disasters and targets students and professionals working in disaster medicine, disaster public health, humanitarian studies, gerontology and geriatrics.

Disaster Public Health and Older People

Disaster Public Health and Older People PDF Author: Emily Ying Yang Chan
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351127608
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Get Book Here

Book Description
Disaster Public Health and Older People introduces professionals, students and fieldworkers to the science and art of promoting health and well-being among older people in the context of humanitarian emergencies, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income country settings. Older people face specific vulnerabilities in physical, mental and social well-being during disasters. They are likely to experience socio-economic marginalisation, isolation, inaccessible information and a lack of relevant post-emergency support services. Meanwhile, although older people can also significantly contribute to disaster preparedness, response and recovery, their capacities are often under-utilised. Drawing on a range of global case studies, this book provides readers with a theoretical underpinning, while suggesting actions at the individual, community and national levels to reduce the health risks to older people posed by the increasing frequency and intensity of disaster, in particular those resulting from natural hazards. Topics covered range from the health impact of disasters on older people and response to their post-disaster health needs, to disaster preparedness, disease prevention, healthy ageing, global policy developments and the contributions of older people in disaster contexts. This book draws on lessons learnt from previous disasters and targets students and professionals working in disaster medicine, disaster public health, humanitarian studies, gerontology and geriatrics.

Disaster Preparedness for Seniors

Disaster Preparedness for Seniors PDF Author: Charles A. Cefalu
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1493906658
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 365

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Book Description
Disaster Preparedness for Seniors: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthcare Professionals outlines specific disaster scenarios for homebound, community, hospitalized, long term care, homeless and aged veterans. Chapters are written by a diverse group of authors, all of whom offer insight and expertise in training healthcare professionals in preparing for disasters. Topics include myths and realities of natural disasters and disaster preparedness for special populations of elders-the acute care elderly, the community-dwelling elderly, home based primary care senior veterans, the immune-compromised elderly, those with multiple and co morbid illnesses, the long-term care elderly, those elderly at the end of life and the effects of disaster on caregivers. A significant portion of the book is also devoted to training, competencies, literacy, cultural competency and resilience in disaster preparedness as well as the role of the academic medical center. The volume concludes with coverage of the management of behavioral, medical and psychological consequences of disasters. Disaster Preparedness for Seniors: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthcare Professionals is an important new volume and will serve as a guide for the development of programs, policies and procedures for evacuation of seniors during various disaster scenarios.

Planning for the Elderly in Natural Disaster

Planning for the Elderly in Natural Disaster PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Disaster relief
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Book Description


Weather Disasters and the Elderly

Weather Disasters and the Elderly PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Select Committee on Aging
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Disaster relief
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description


Natural Disasters and Older Adults

Natural Disasters and Older Adults PDF Author: Elizabeth Irene Fugate-Whitlock
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Examining older adults' experiences with and response toward hurricanes within the context of the community of residence is key to both understanding their experiences and planning for future hurricanes. Specific to this research, the objective was to understand the current social network of older adults, or who provides care for whom under what circumstances, using the social constructionist perspective. Grounded theory combined with action research was the theoretical orientation guiding the study. Sources of data included the collection of household disaster plans, semi-structured interviews with older adult residents of housing authority neighborhoods, semi-structured interviews with community planners, and observation of community planning meetings. Data were gathered from older adults living in housing authority communities in Southeastern North Carolina using guidelines established by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to develop individual disaster plans. The individual disaster plans were completed during face to face meetings with the older adults, as were semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews were also completed with area planners. Agendas, minutes, and observational notes from disaster planning meetings were collected. The content of the individual disaster plans, semi-structured interviews, and observation notes were then analyzed to determine gaps that must be addressed in order to meet the overall needs of the community. Working with participants, the housing authority disaster response committee, and county planners, a neighborhood plan will be developed that reflects the social construction of all concerned for use in response to future hurricanes. The impact of the multiple levels of communities was apparent in this research. While common thematic processes emerged in data analysis, planners, housing authority personnel and residents of housing communities define community differently. There is discordance when they identify needed resources, and when they reflect on past experience. A power differential which resulted in stifling was also observed.

Older People in Natural Disasters

Older People in Natural Disasters PDF Author: Junko Ōtani
Publisher: Trans Pacific Press
ISBN: 9781920901899
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Japan's Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 destroyed the homes, livelihoods, and communities of many elderly people. Some of the most vulnerable survivors spent up to five years in temporary shelters before settling into publicly subsidized apartments or dispersing into the general population. Public scrutiny of the post-earthquake recovery drew attention to the challenges of community generation and the loneliness, isolation, and death experienced by elderly earthquake victims. Bringing together quantitative and qualitative analysis of media discourse, public policy, and ethnographic fieldwork, this book examines the earthquake's long-term effects of temporary shelters and public reconstruction housing for elderly residents. The first study to utilize NVivo qualitative research software in a Japanese research context, this is an original contribution to natural disaster literature, as well as health and welfare policy in societies that, like Japan, are undergoing rapid urbanization and population aging.

Older People in Emergencies

Older People in Emergencies PDF Author: David Hutton
Publisher: World Health Organization
ISBN: 9241547391
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 41

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Book Description
Older people have often been overlooked in disasters and conflicts, and their concerns have rarely been addressed by emergency programs or planners. This analysis seeks to highlight factors that particularly affect older people in emergencies, especially health-related concerns, propose a strategy to raise awareness about older people in emergencies and recommend policies and practices to address these considerations. Until recently, older people's needs in disasters and conflicts were addressed only by broader adult health and humanitarian programs. This has changed as several recent emergencies highlighted this population's vulnerabilities. Of the 14 800 deaths in France during the 2003 heat wave, 70% were of people over 75 years. Of the estimated 1330 people who died in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, most were older persons. In Louisiana, 71% of those who died were older than 60 years; 47% of this group were over 77 years old. Worldwide, the UNHCR has estimated that older persons make up 8.5% of the overall refugee population, and in some cases comprise more than 30% of caseloads. In 2005, approximately 2.7 million people over the age of 60 were living as refugees or internally displaced persons. Globally, the proportion of older people is growing faster than any other age group. In 2000 one in ten, or about 600 million, people were 60 years or older. By 2025, this figure is expected to reach 1.2 billion people, and in 2050 around 1.9 billion. In developing countries, where 80% of older people live, the proportion of those over 60 years old in 2025 will increase from 7% to 12%. The increasing population of older people has drawn attention to the need to revise humanitarian policies to adequately serve this group s basic living and health requirements. From a health perspective, it is important to recognize the needs of older persons and to develop appropriate policies to promote emergency health care. Yet it is equally critical to assess and prepare for demographic and health trends that determine the shape of future emergencies. By 2050, the prevalence of disability in some developing countries is projected to rise by 400% as the population ages. At the same time, it is important to observe that the older population as a whole is neither helpless nor dependent. Most older people are capable of coping and adapting, despite increasing poor health and frailty as they age. Older people contribute immeasurably to their families and communities in various roles, and commonly sacrifice their well being to help their children and grandchildren. In Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has seen older persons assume responsibility for raising many thousands of orphaned grandchildren and other children in need. Finally, older people contribute to their communities their decades of accumulated experience, knowledge and understanding. This insight makes them an essential resource and potential partner in developing emergency preparedness and response programmes.

Developing Resilience Through Communication and Community

Developing Resilience Through Communication and Community PDF Author: Brett William Robertson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Older adults are considered one of the most vulnerable populations in natural disasters, and our knowledge of the communicative processes behind their disaster preparations is limited. Extant research has called for more scholarship to understand the antecedents to their preparations. One promising area in the literature is the notion of community for older adults. While perceptions of community have positive health benefits, there is little work that investigates the role of community perceptions in the natural disaster context for older adults. The focus of this effort is to bring more attention to the role that community and organizations have on risk behaviors for older adults by extending Witte’s (1992) Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). To accomplish this goal, this study incorporates the concept of community-efficacy into the perceptions of efficacy component of the model to better understand intention toward preparing in advance for natural disasters for older adults living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). EPPM, generally an individual-centered health communication theory, includes the concepts of threat and efficacy, but overlooks a collective component, community-efficacy. Using quantitative survey data from two CCRCs in U.S., this research contributes to communication scholarship by highlighting how community-efficacy uniquely explains a significant, but small amount of additional variance on the intention to prepare for natural disasters above all other predictors in EPPM. This dissertation’s extension of the perceived efficacy components of EPPM can be useful at predicting older adults’ future disaster preparedness behaviors. Given the role of community resilience during natural disasters, as well as the beneficial impact of community within retirement communities, this dissertation examined several variables that influence the intention to prepare. The results show that disaster management perceptions, community identification, and response-efficacy moderate the relationship between community-efficacy and intention to prepare, while previous experience with natural disasters and communication with others before a natural disaster predicts the intention to prepare. Together, the investigation of these variables provides insight into both theoretical and practical considerations needed for understanding disaster preparations in the older adult context

The Other Side of Suffering

The Other Side of Suffering PDF Author: Katie E. Cherry
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0190849738
Category : Adaptability (Psychology)
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
"In this book, I address a perennial question: how does one find his or her way to the other side of suffering after a catastrophic disaster or other personal tragedy? The answer I suggest comes from coastal residents who survived the 2005 Atlantic Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Those who have lost homes and communities can provide an authentic and relatable example for other people faced with a life changing tragedy. In the first section, historic perspectives on disasters and their human impacts are considered. Two coastal parishes (counties) in south Louisiana are highlighted as a natural context for intergenerational knowledge of hurricanes and severe weather events. The Katrina experience is documented through entries in a survivor's personal journal. In the second section, six research-based principles of healing are presented: faith and humor, respect and gratitude, and acceptance and silver linings. Colorful case illustrations and direct quotes from Katrina survivors bring these principles to life. In the third section, post-disaster grief, the new normal after a disaster, and four obstacles that can delay or derail the process of healing are explored. Recovering daily routines and holiday observances provide direction as life goes on after a disaster. The voices of coastal residents who survived the Katrina tragedy offer a message of hope and healing after disaster for all who will listen. Their lives demonstrate quite convincingly that people can overcome catastrophic loss and regain a sense of joy in daily living in the years after a disaster or other life altering tragedy"--

Protecting Seniors Against Environmental Disasters

Protecting Seniors Against Environmental Disasters PDF Author: Michael R Greenberg
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113501910X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
The baby boom generation were born between 1946 and 1964 and are the largest population cohort in US history. They should number about 90 million by mid-century, more than doubling their current size. The massive increase in seniors and relative decline of those of working age in the US is mirrored in almost all the world’s most populous countries. This book connects the dots between the US baby boom generation and the marked increase in natural and human-caused disasters. It evaluates options available to seniors, their aids, for and not-for and for-profit organizations and government to reduce vulnerability to hazard events. These include coordinated planning, risk assessment, regulations and guidelines, education, and other risk management efforts. Using interviews with experts, cases studies, especially of Superstorm Sandy, and literature, it culls best practice and identify major gaps. It is original and successful in making the connection between the growing group of vulnerable US seniors, environmental events, and risk management practices in order to isolate the most effective lessons learned.