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Page 1: 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.

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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

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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