Abstract
Disasters are worldwide events varying according to different geographic regions, with negative impacts on lives. Their effects on individuals under the influence of such events change by age, gender and socio-economic status. During and after a disaster, elderly individuals may be more fragile compared to other social groups. Particularly chronic diseases, mobility limitations, and decline in sensory organs and cognitive functions can make older individuals more vulnerable to risky situations. Türkiye is in a region where disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides are frequent. Disasters disrupt the usual order of the social system, presenting a problem that needs to be addressed, which is the vulnerability of the elderly who are part of the social system. Frailty in older individuals can negatively impact their physical and mental health. Therefore, special precautions and protection and support mechanisms for the elderly are crucial. One mission of gerontology is to examine the challenges of aging and develop strategies to overcome them. Developing solutions to the challenges, needs, and problems faced by older individuals in disaster situations and increasing their resilience can be possible through sustainable strategies developed from a gerontological perspective. Therefore, it is essential that disaster strategies in Türkiye be planned and implemented specifically for the elderly. Setting out from the disaster gerontology concept, this study answers the question of how the elderly should be assisted in disaster-related crises, introducing models that are hypothesized to be applicable in disasters and warrant empirical testing.
Presenters
Ismail TufanAkdeniz University, Gerontology Department Özlem Özgür
Research Assistant, Gerontology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey Fatma Gülsima Agildere
National and International Relations and Projects Coordinator, National Association for Social and Applied Gerontology, Antalya, Turkey
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Aging, Intergenerational Solidarity and the Polycrisis
KEYWORDS
Disaster, Disaster Gerontology, Model, Strategy, Crisis
