Elder People and DRR
-
Upload
oxfam-in-armenia -
Category
Government & Nonprofit
-
view
104 -
download
0
Transcript of Elder People and DRR
Elder people and DRR
According to international classification, people reaching 65 years of age are
defined as elders. However, in the Republic of Armenia the age 63 is defined
as retirement age. According to the data of the World Health Organization, in
2050 2bn. people in world will be 60 years old or more.As of January 1, 2015,
the number of 63 years old people constitutes 371.3 thousand or 12.3% of
population. Women constitute 59.7% of elders and 15.6 % of elders are
people with disabilities.
Unlike other representatives of society, the elder people cannot immediately
react to hazards and risks for responding to emergencies, are less mobile and
are dependent on the others.
The vulnerability of elders and their capacities are often ignored during
emergencies, whereas the collection of data about age and sex can make the
needs of people in DRR visible.
Life experience, skills and knowledge of elders can be valuable in different
DRR processes which should be appreciated, valued and included in the
proposals, thus promoting their participation in program development,
realization and assessment stages.
Often elder people leaving 60 years and more may experience the hazards for
several times in their life. Many of them, based on their experience, know
well what to do, are ready to help and assist the people who appeared in
difficult situations.
However, elder people are very often vulnerable and have special needsespecially when they have age-related chronic diseases limiting to certainextent their mobility, cognitive or other functions. They may havepsychological depression caused by emergencies. They become alsovulnerable due to social and economic constraints hindering them to beprepared for hazards, response and adapt to them. In addition, they are notproperly informed about possible hazards.
The RA legislation specifies that elder people should be ensured by decent
standard of living. The RA legislation and policy are directed to social
protection of elder people. The RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
highlights, as central issues of the sphere, improvement of quality of
provided social service and care to the elder people, access and affordability
of services, improvement of care and social services, as well as sanitary and
hygiene conditions of care homes etc.
In the legal acts regulating DRR sphere, the needs of elders like the needs of
disabled people are not addressed.
The criteria of including the elder people in DRR should be based on the
following three principles:
Legislation
Main principles of involving elder people in DRR
Legislation
Main principles of involving elder people in DRR
�
�
�
addressing special needs in all DRR processes,
collection of data according to age and sex,
involvement of elders in DRR projects taking into account their life
experience and knowledge.
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆☆
☆☆
Elder people are particularly addressed in disaster management and climate
polices, requiring direct actions in planning, budgeting and training stages.
Consideration of vulnerability and capacities of elders during assessment of
local and national hazards and climate risks,
Warning messages and information are accessible, understandable and
applicable by elder people.
Concrete actions for evacuation plans at local level ensuring evacuation and
protection of elders, including actions envisaged for elders with limited mobility,speech and hearing impairments and psychological disorders.
Disaster supplies and stocks including assistive devices, medicines and food are
required and accessible to elders during disasters.
Evacuation and leisure centers are equipped with benches above the ground,
handrails, have access to wheelchairs and are separated for men and women.
Collection of statistic data according to sex, age, disability for the following
age groups: 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+ in disaster management and risk
Indicators ensuring the fulfillment of these principles are as
follows:
Indicators ensuring the fulfillment of these principles are as
follows:
�
�
�
�
�
�
how to receive regular updated information about emergencies,
developments and course of events by stationary telephone, cellular phone,
computer, radio, TV or other means of communication,
chose safe and familiar places to assemble together with family members
during emergencies,
set up individual support group comprising of family members, relatives,
neighbors, community members etc,
have individual essential belongings, ready-to-use food and water, first aid
kits, candles or torches, copies of important documents in waterproof bags
etc.
create informational medical list including the name and contacts of
medical doctor and diagnosis, state the use of special assistive appliances,
allergy diseases or other needs of elders. Prepare medicines for seven days
in case of not having an opportunity to contact or find these medicines,
make emergency information list for the others to know whom to apply if
you need an assistance,
install fire safety system in the house, test it, develop and test the evacuation
plan for several times,
make the houses, places where the elders mostly stay safe, move or remove the
furniture that can close exits.
�
�
reduction initiatives.
Training of health, search, rescue, management, coordination, food,
protection staff for working with elderly people and responding to their specific
needs during emergencies.
Knowledge, skills and contributions of elderly people in disaster risk
management are recognized and promoted at high levels.
☆ ☆
☆ ☆
☆ ☆
☆ ☆ ☆
☆ ☆ ☆
☆ ☆ ☆
Elder people have access to cash transfers and livelihoods recovery
initiatives.
Flexible and climate-smart initiatives include elder people who
continue working.
Elder people are presented in DRR management process by the
community and at national level for ensuring their voices to be heard.
Active social protection system, availability and access to pensions,
operating cash transfer mechanisms. Elder people have access to hazard
insurance and risk directed transfer mechanisms.
Actions for elder people and members of their families
One of the essential preconditions for supporting elders is development of
individual action plans, as well as development of their capacities for
preventing and responding to disaster risks. These activities should include the
following actions:
develop family communication plan providing information on how to
inform each other about disaster risks, how and who to contact,
�
Preparatory work. Main actions
diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In case of emergencies the
elders should have insulin, pills improving blood coagulation.
8. Works with guardians or supporting services if elder people live alone and
receive medical treatment and care at home. They must be ready to respond to
emergencies and provide assistance in case of necessity.
9. Senior homes and special institutions where elder people live should be in
the focus of attention. They must feel safe and secure in these houses and
receive the same services and support like other members of community.
10. Elder people are more sensitive to cold and extreme heat, temperature
fluctuations or extreme weather patterns than others.
11. Individual needs of elders should be considered while providing them with
shelters during emergencies, for example such shelters should be located in
quiet places as far as it is possible.
12. During rehabilitation works following disaster or emergency situations,
elder people should be provided with psychological assistance. In addition to
medical assistance and food, they often need communication more, especially
with peer groups.
Activities for local self-governing bodies, civil society membersand responsible people
1. It is necessary to create DRR database including the number of elders living
in the community, their location, senior centers, soup kitchens, hospitals, care
homes keeping individual data confidentiality.
2. Elder people are not prone to leave their houses. Even anticipating hazards
cannot force them to leave their houses or community. In such cases patience
should be displayed and their will should be respected.
3. Inform about the resources and services provided by the community.
4. Inform about expected emergencies that may occur in the given region, city
or community.
5. Conduct trainings for volunteers to take care of elders as their children,
relatives may be far away during emergencies.
6. Develop individual evacuation plan by assessing the capacities of elder
people and considering their needs, clear what actions they can take
independently and what additional assistance they need.
7. Diseases of elder people that may cause also disability include cancer,
Activities for local self-governing bodies, civil society membersand responsible people