A disaster is a serious disruption, occurring over a relatively short time, of the functioning of a community or a society, involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. The impacts of disasters vary from person to person. The primary reason for this varied impact is the difference in their vulnerabilities. Vulnerability, as the name suggests, is a condition determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes that increase the susceptibility of an individual or a community to the impacts of hazards. Of the different sets of individuals, the ones that are on the higher vulnerability end are women, children, and the elderly.
Statistics related to natural disasters reveal that in the struggle for survival, the elderly are usually the last in the line and lost in the crowd, and therefore suffer the most. At the time of an emergency, the instant reflex of all able-bodied people would be self-protection, the safety of women and children, and the recovery of important documents or other valuables. Elderly people are left to look after themselves, or the focus shifts to them at the end. The severity of the impacts of emergencies and disasters on old people mostly depends on the characteristics specific to the elderly and the environment they live in, the type and severity of the existing hazards, disaster management strategies, and interactions between all of these.
They, in particular, can have difficulty adapting to sudden changes and coping with disasters. Aging by itself does not generate vulnerable conditions. Problems prominent in old age, such as the progressive loss of bodily function, can increase vulnerability. Decreased body strength, poor tolerance of physical activity, functional limitations, and decreased sensory awareness all contribute to a decrease in the coping capacity of the individual.
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Age-related issues, for example, a decline in mobility, can increase older people’s vulnerability in two ways: one, by making it harder for them to maintain their houses and prepare for a potential disaster, and second, by making it harder to evacuate and protect themselves in an emergency situation. Mental health problems are common in old age and can make the disruptions associated with disasters seem much worse, leading to feelings of helplessness and, as a result, a poor ability to respond. Also, not all of the old people live in safe housing, especially in rural areas. Their houses tend to be older and structurally less maintained (if they are unable to effect repairs), which makes them more vulnerable to hazards.
It is usually very difficult for the affected elderly to get their share in the relief material and aid. They suffer the most as they do not get proper nutrition and medicines, and don’t get the proper required rest. Many old people die prematurely due to a devastated post-crisis life. Often, during the distribution of disaster relief material, older people are the last recipients, as they find it difficult to reach the point of relief distribution in time. In many cases, they even remain deprived of relief materials and help.
Something that affects an individual more than any other thing is the emotional stress induced due to catastrophic conditions. The loss of loved ones, home, and valuables in itself is too much for emotionally breaking down a mentally and physically healthy person. Its effect on an elderly person cannot be quantified. This emotional weakening could be fatal, as the person might lose the will to live, rather than adapt to new surroundings.
The impacts of these disasters can be minimized with proper disaster management strategies and evacuation plans. One of the effective methods could be a community-based disaster management (CBDM) framework, wherein all the people in the community can contribute their bits. The aim of CBDM is to reduce vulnerability and strengthen the coping capacity of people against any existing hazards in their immediate neighborhoods. As a whole community is involved in the strategy-making process, it is hence possible to cater to the special needs of those on the higher vulnerability end.
References
- Terminology. UNISDR News, 2 Feb. 2017. http://unisdr.org/we/inform/terminology
- Disaster Management. Helpage India. http://helpageindia.org/our-work/welfare-development/disaster-management
- Good Health Adds Life to Years. Pan American Health Organisation, 2012. http://paho.org/hq/dmdocuments/2012/Disasters-English.pdf
- Rath, Himanshu. ‘Disasters Can Take a Toll on Health’. Livemint, 10 Sep. 2018. http://livemint.com/Money/imBHbnavrswgNEflfCxq9K/Disasters-can-take-a-toll-on-the-elderly.html
- Perappadan, Bindu. ‘Elderly the Worst Hit During Natural Calamities’. The Hindu, 29 Aug. 2018. http://thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/elderly-the-worst-hit-during-natural-calamities/article24805083.ece
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