Psychological and Physical Impacts of Extreme Events on Older Adults: Implications for Communications

Erin McClelland; Richard  Amlôt; M. Brooke Rogers; G. James Rubin; John Tesh; Julia M. Pearce

doi:10.1017/dmp.2016.118

Psychological and Physical Impacts of Extreme Events on Older Adults: Implications for Communications

Erin McClelland, Richard Amlôt, M. Brooke Rogers, G. James Rubin, John Tesh, Julia M. Pearce

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

270 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In recent years, a series of large-scale, high-profile natural disasters and terrorist attacks have demonstrated the need for thorough and effective disaster preparedness. While these extreme events affect communities and societies as a whole, they also carry specific risks for particular population groups. Crises such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan have illustrated the risk of significant and disproportionate morbidity and mortality among older adults during disasters. Age does not necessarily equate to vulnerability, but many physical and psychological consequences of the aging process can increase the risk of adverse outcomes. As the older population grows, so too does the need to ensure that adequate, practical, and appropriate measures exist to offset the specific risks from extreme events associated with this subpopulation. Effective risk and crisis communication plays a key role in mitigating the extent to which older adults are differentially affected during extreme events. By identifying the specific issues affecting older adults, this review highlights important areas for action for practitioners and policy-makers, particularly in the realm of crisis communication.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	127-134
Journal	Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Volume	11
Issue number	1
Early online date	20 Sept 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2016.118
Publication status	Published - 20 Sept 2016

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10.1017/dmp.2016.118

Psychological and Physical Impacts_MCLELLAND_Accepted2016_GREEN AAM
This article has been accepted for publication and will appear in a revised form, subsequent to peer review and/or editorial input by Cambridge University Press, in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness published by Cambridge University Press. COPYRIGHT: © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016.
Accepted author manuscript, 486 KB

1 Finished

NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU): Emergency Preparedness and Response
Rubin, J. (Primary Investigator), Wessely, S. (Primary Investigator), Reedy, G. (Co-Investigator), Rogers, B. (Co-Investigator), Weinman, J. (Co-Investigator) & Pearce, J. (Co-Investigator)
NIHR National Institute For Health & Care Research
1/04/2014 → 31/03/2020
Project: Research

16 Citations
1 Review article

Delivering extreme event preparedness education in schools: A systematic review of educational preparedness resources available in England
Hodson, A., Pearce, J., Amlot, R. & Rogers, B., Jan 2024, In: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 100, 25 p., 104171.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Open Access

Risk, rhetoric, and response: effective communication with at-risk groups to improve health outcomes during an influenza pandemic
McClelland, E. (Author), Pearce, J. (Supervisor) & Amlot, R. (Supervisor), 1 Feb 2020
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

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Cite this

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Psychological and Physical Impacts of Extreme Events on Older Adults: Implications for Communications

Abstract

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Projects

NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU): Emergency Preparedness and Response

Research output

Delivering extreme event preparedness education in schools: A systematic review of educational preparedness resources available in England

Student theses

Risk, rhetoric, and response: effective communication with at-risk groups to improve health outcomes during an influenza pandemic

Cite this