Structural Barriers to Disaster Resilience: Age

1. Structural Barriers to Disaster Resilience:Age Session 13

2. Session Objectives • Describe demographic distribution of age in the U.S. • Analyze the relationship between social institutions and age • Identify how vulnerability to disaster and post-disaster recovery vary over life course • Discuss capacity of the very young and very old in disaster

3. Population Distribution ofElderly in the U.S. - 2000 13% 20% 65 Yrs and Younger Over 65 Yrs 87% 80% 2030 Projected 2000 Source: Administration on Aging. 2001. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

4. Projected Increase of People Over 85 Yrs. of Age in U.S. Time Period Increase 1995-2010 56% 2010-2030 50% 2030-2050 116% Source: Administration on Aging. 2001. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

5. Percent of Elderly Living in Nursing Homes in U.S. - 2000 Age Percent 64-74 Yrs. 1.1% 75-84 Yrs. 4.5% 85+ Yrs. 19.0% Source: Administration on Aging. 2001. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

6. Population Distribution ofChildren in the U.S. 42% 56% 18 Years and Older Under 18 Years 44% 58% 2030 Projected 2000 Source: Children’s Defense Fund. 2001. Available online at: http://www.childrensdefense.org

7. Poverty Rate by Age of Elderly in the U.S. - 2000 Age Poverty Rate 65-74 Yrs. 9% 75-84 Yrs. 12% 85+ Yrs. 14% Source: Administration on Aging. 2001. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

8. Poverty Rate of Elderly byMarital Status - 2000 5% 17% Not in Poverty In Poverty 95% 83% Married Couples Unmarried Source: Administration on Aging. 2001. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

9. Source of Income for Elderly by Income Distribution - 2000 8% 10% 20% Social Security Public Assistance Pensions Earnings/Assets 50% 10% 82% 20% Bottom 20% of Income Distribution Top 20% of Income Distribution Source: Federal Forum on Age-Related Statistics. 2000. Older Americans 2000: Key Indicators of Well-Being. Available online at: http://www.agingstats.gov/chartbook2000/OlderAmericans2000.pdf

10. Status of U.S. Compared to Other Countries - 2000 • 11th in proportion of children living in poverty • 16th in living standards among the poorest 20% of children • 16th in efforts to lift children out of poverty • 18th in the gap between rich and poor children • 32nd in infant mortality rates Source: Children’s Defense Fund. 2001. Available online at: http://www.childrensdefense.org

11. Population Distribution of Elderly by Sex - 2000 Source: Administration on Aging. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

12. Poverty Rates of Elderly by Sex - 2000 Source: Administration on Aging. Available online at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/STATS/aging21/default.htm

13. Poverty Rates of Children in the U.S. - 2000 Source: Children’s Defense Fund. 2001. Available online at: http://www.childrensdefense.org

14. Children Respond and are Affected Differently • Young children often need physical reassurance • Some young children will re-experience the event periodically • Some young children experience excessive attachment behaviors • Children often will react to and simulate parents’ or adults’ behavior and mood • Young girls die at a higher rate than other children, probably because they are with their mothers, who also die at a higher rate than males Source: Children’s Defense Fund. 2001. Available online at: http://www.childrensdefense.org

15. Strategies for Helping Children Affected by Disaster Age Strategies Pre-School Reassure children they are safe through providing extra comfort Get a better understanding of their feelings by having children draw pictures and discuss their fears School Age Don’t give false assurances that a disaster won’t happen again Monitor media viewing because images may be frightening to children Allow them to express themselves through drawing or music or play Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know Adolescents Encourage them to express their feelings and work out their concerns Offer support and comfort Source: Children’s Defense Fund. 2001. Available online at: http://www.childrensdefense.org

16. Key Issues Reported by Elderly Victims • Basic Needs: shelter, fuel, clothing, bedding, household items • Mobility: incapacity, transport • Health: access to services; appropriate food, water, sanitation, psychosocial needs • Family and Social: separation, dependents, changes in social structure, loss of status • Economic and Legal: income, information, documentation Source: HelpAge International. 2001. “Older People in Disasters and Humanitarian Disasters: Guidelines for Best Practice.” Available online as a .pdf file: http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/HelpAge_olderpeople.pdf

17. Addressing Needs of Elderly Victims • Develop checklists to assess levels of isolation and special needs of elderly, and use resource mapping to identify appropriate resources • Pair isolated or limited-mobility elders with others as a “buddy” system • Check records in service facilities to find out if expected numbers of elderly have applied for help • In sheltering situations, try to keep elderly together with people they know • Make service delivery locations as accessible as possible Source: HelpAge International. 2001. “Older People in Disasters and Humanitarian Disasters: Guidelines for Best Practice.” Available online as a .pdf file: http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/HelpAge_olderpeople.pdf