Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Senior Care
When a magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the East Coast on August 23, my thoughts immediately went to my elderly aunt living alone in Manhattan. A lifelong denizen, she refuses to leave the island. You know the type—she declined to leave even after the September 11 attacks. I imagined buildings shaking around her, and although this episode wasn’t nearly as bad as it was in my imagination, I wondered how she would fare had it been worse.
I remember the plight of the elderly when Japan suffered its July 2007 earthquake. All of the 10 people killed were older than 65.
Life expectancy, according to the U.S. census, is projected to increase from 76 years in 1993 to 82 years in 2050. We’ve seen a dramatically greater rate of growth in the most vulnerable elderly population. Over the last decade, the number of elderly (age 65+) with mobility limitations grew by 40 percent. The oldest old (persons 85 years old and over) is the fastest growing segment of the elderly population.
Disasters, natural and otherwise, make the challenges of an aging society become very apparent. I decided it was important to create a family “disaster” plan.
According to the American Red Cross, “forty-five states and territories in the United States are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes, and they are located in every region of the country.” They post an Earthquake Safety Checklist. Go over it with your family members, especially your seniors living alone.
Make sure they know the safest place in their home for each type of emergency. Speak to your elderly family’s neighbors—perhaps someone would be willing to help them evacuate if necessary. If they need special foods or medications, be sure to have them store several days’ worth. Make sure they know to contact you to let you know that they are safe.
Post-disaster, seniors especially can fall prey to scam artists looking to take advantage of the misfortunes of others. Look for legitimate assistance for services through your family member’s State Agency on Aging.
And if you live a distance away from your senior loved one, you might consider hiring a Home Care Agency so that someone is nearby, knows your loved one, and is ready to help.
Many elderly need assistance even in normal times. In a disaster, they can become absolutely helpless. You can help by preparing them and yourself.
