ABSTRACT
Supporting older survivors of disasters and emergencies often requires different considerations from those of other age groups. In addition to health and medical response, many other relevant and complementary sectors that might support older people’s well-being and care are often overlooked and underdeveloped. Public health education should focus on the impact of stress and physical exertion on chronic conditions, and information on potential emergency service locations should be disseminated to communities. Many issues affect effectiveness of the relief and rescue of older people in disasters and emergencies. In addition to challenges in tracking isolated older people during the process, the risks of evacuating frail, incapacitated older people, the logistics of reaching relevant medical information and drug records of patients, and the lack of suitable host facilities for evacuated older people might complicate the decision-making process. Major gaps in addressing older people issues have been identified in preparedness, needs assessment, response and rehabilitation in crises and emergencies.
