Disasters and Long-Term Recovery: Introduction to a Special Issue

Cherry, Katie E.

doi:10.1007/s12144-015-9369-z

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…Furthermore, approximately one-fourth of Puerto Rican older adults lived alone in 2017, 57,58 and consistent with other studies, findings raise concerns for emotional well-being and social support in these high stress, uncertain contexts. 6,57,[59][60][61][62][63][64][65] While research shows that older adults are less likely to adequately prepare for natural hazards or heed warnings, 4,66-82 study participants described several community-level preparedness measures to protect older adults. Regardless, communities had not foreseen an extended recovery, indicative of broader disaster planning and risk communication inadequacies, which are not keeping stride with growing magnitudes of natural hazards and shifting demographics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Natural Hazards on Older Adult Health: Lessons Learned From Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico

Andrade

Jula

Rodríguez-Díaz

et al. 2021

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Objective: With natural hazards increasing in frequency and severity and global population aging, preparedness efforts must evolve to address older adults’ risks in disasters. This study elucidates potential contributors to the elevated older adult mortality risk following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico through an examination of community stakeholder preparedness, response, and recovery experiences. Methods: In April 2018, qualitative interviews (n = 22) were conducted with stakeholders in 7 Puerto Rican municipalities. Interview transcripts were deductively and inductively coded and analyzed to identify salient topics and themes representing participant response patterns. Results: The hurricane’s detrimental impact on older adult health emerged as a prominent finding. Through 6 months post-hurricane, many older adults experienced unmet needs that contributed to declining physical and emotional health, inadequate non-communicable disease management, social isolation, financial strain, and excess morbidity and mortality. These needs were predominantly consequences of lengthy public service gaps, unsafe living conditions, interrupted health care, and the incongruence between preparedness and event severity. Conclusions: In a landscape of increasing natural hazard frequency and magnitude, a pattern of older adult risk has become increasingly clear. Study findings compel practitioners to engage in natural hazard preparedness planning, research, and policy-making that considers the multiple facets of older adult well-being.

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