Univ of Iowa study: Older adults in U.S. not prepared for natural disasters

[cyberswede]

It's intuitive that the elderly would be at greater risk, but this study is about people over 50, which surprised me.
Be careful out there!

UI study: Older adults in U.S. not prepared for natural disasters
Older adults often have special needs that increase their vulnerabilty

As severe weather season approaches for much of the country, a recent University of Iowa study finds that, compared to younger adults, older adults are more vulnerable when natural disasters hit. Yet the majority of adults age 50 and older in the U.S. may not be prepared for a serious flood, earthquake, tornado, or other natural calamity.

These are among the findings researchers in the University of Iowa College of Public Health recently published online in the American Journal of Public Health. The UI report is based on a 2010 survey that was part of the Health and Retirement Study, which collects social, economic, and health information on adults age 50 and older in the U.S.

More: http://now.uiowa.edu/2014/03/ui-study-older-adults-us-not-prepared-natural-disasters

[rurallib]

1. I am not surprised

any type of real long range planning / preparations by individuals have greatly lessened over the years as wages have shrunk, costs have gone up so wages barely cover expenses.

[shraby]

2. Part of it is older people generally have medicines they have to take daily..i.e blood pressure,

diabetes meds. In a disaster, those meds quite often are gone. Short of carrying them on their person during a developing disaster, when the smoke clears, they won't have them...depending on the disaster, like maybe a flood they get caught up in, they might be gone anyway.

[cyberswede]

3. Oh yeah - didn't think about that...

I was thinking about physical issues - for instance my 84 year old mother has a difficult time getting into the basement.

[Iggo]

4. Man, I gotta get me some study money!

[lumpy]

7. No shit. This study is a waste of money. An idiot could figure out that oldsters would have a

difficult time dealing with a disaster. So would most people because most people aren't prepared for disasters and hardly give it a thought.

[Iggo]

8. "Iggo's Disaster Study"

"The Old, the Very Young, and the Sick will fare poorly in a disaster."

Where's my money?!?!?!?!

[Tikki]

5. Having lived in California for most of my 64 years, I am prepared for the 'big one'..

We have family drills and emergency supplies, know what do around the property and even what to do
if we are away from home if a larger quake were to hit.

I feel prepared but I sure don't look forward to one. It has been 20 years since I last had to face that challenge
and I could wait forever for another one.

Tikki

[Politicalboi]

6. Kids who can't live without their phones

Are more prepared than me?

Now granted, I don't have a plan for flooding or extra food for earthquakes, but neither do the younger ones. I don't revolve around tweets and texts. Kids for the most part who didn't play outside from morning till dark when they were young. Too many new tech gadgets instead of living a hands on life. When they can't get a signal, I'll be laughing.