全球智库信息集成服务系统

Key Findings

1. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters but also possess assets that can contribute to disaster preparedness.
2. Public health department efforts to promote disaster preparedness do not always accommodate the needs of older adults.
3. Aging-in-place efforts — activities to help older adults live well in their homes and communities rather than in institutional settings — focus on daily needs rather than on disaster resilience.
4. Current aging-in-place efforts can be harnessed to strengthen disaster resilience among older adults.
5. Collaborations between public health departments and organizations that promote aging in place could improve disaster resilience among older populations.

Older adults — those age 65 and up — are especially vulnerable to natural disasters. A disproportionate number of deaths and injuries from disasters occur in this population. In the United States, most older adults are unprepared for an emergency, and many are socially isolated. Older adults are also more likely to have chronic health problems and functional limitations that hamper their ability to prepare for and respond to a disaster. Many need help evacuating during an emergency. Yet, some older adults can also contribute assets to disaster response: They can draw on their experience, resources, and relationship-building skills to prepare themselves and to support others during an emergency.