Older persons deserve special attention in times of crises

Residents of Kapuothe and Nanga villages in Kisumu devastated by flood water. [File, Standard] In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries, ageing continues to be a neglected issue with little to no attention being given to the plight of the elderly. According to Help Age International, the neglect could be due to the widespread belief that few old people exist in those countries or that traditional structures provide support for older people. The misconception that all elderly people are economically inactive and passive recipients of care compounds their neglect, relegating them to being welfare cases and thus a burden to society. The situation is worsened in moments of crises such as pandemics, political upheavals, war, and environmental disasters like floods and droughts. While older people are commonly accepted as being a vulnerable or potentially vulnerable group during a crisis, in most cases very little is done to meet their particular needs, or to recognise their unique capacities and contributions. Humanitarian interventions often ignore their special needs, using systems that discriminate against older people and undermine their capacity to support themselves. According to Help Age International, governments and humanitarian organisations generally fail to include older people in crisis training due to the 'common misconception that older people are difficult to train, not open to new ideas, and unable to participate effectively in community and economic activities'. Some of the key issues affecting older persons during crises include physical vulnerability. Older adults often have chronic health conditions requiring specialised care. Their immune systems may be weakened, leaving them vulnerable to pandemics, for instance. Additionally, mobility issues can result in older people being too slow or left behind during evacuations and unable to access essential services. The loss or misplacement of mobility aids, prostheses, and spectacles during an emergency can further hinder their ability to move fast, salvage their belonging, or escape calamity on foot. Secondly, older persons lack adequate access to resources. Crises can separate people from their family and support networks, increasing isolation and anxiety. This isolation, combined with limited mobility and physical strength, can make accessing food, clean water, and medical care difficult. Where emergency services are centralised, instead of being protected and supported, older people often have to compete with younger, able-bodied people. Often, chronic medications are unavailable and provided food is unsuitable for elderly people's digestive systems and teeth. Thirdly, when homes have been destroyed, older people often lack access to building materials and clothes, blankets, pots and pans and other household items. Many do not have the strength to rebuild or collect fuel to prepare meals. Where basic shelter is provided, some facilities leave older people sleeping on cold, hard, or damp surfaces resulting in their chronic but manageable joint problems becoming acute and severely debilitating. Further, displacement often alienates the elderly from their sources of income and land, making it difficult to make a living and rendering them dependent on relief from governments and aid organisations. In order to address these challenges there is urgent need to mainstream the issues of the elderly in government policies and NGOs that offer humanitarian support. It is critical that older people are engaged through consultation to develop interventions that address their challenges and are tailored to meet their specific needs. Sadly, even when agencies carry out participatory assessments of need at community level, older people's vulnerability, and their potential contribution to relief delivery and rehabilitation, tend to be ignored. Elderly people do not necessarily need special services, but their requirements must be mainstreamed to ensure equity across the various groups in society. Older people opine that their most urgent needs during a crisis can be broken into five categories: Basic needs: Food, shelter, fuel, clothing, bedding, household items. Health: Access to medication, appropriate food, water, sanitation and psychosocial needs. Mobility: Access to transportation and disability movement. Family and society: Inclusion, dependents, security and social structures. Economic needs: Access to income, land, skills and training, and information. It is important to recognise that older people can be part of the solution during crises. Studies indicate that in crisis contexts, older people desire, to be seen, heard and understood, to have access to essential support services, and to have their potential and contributions recognised and valued. Older persons have a wealth of life experience and knowledge which can be tapped into in decision-making and problem solving. Prior crises experience gives them resilience and coping mechanisms. The elderly should be taking leadership roles in communities and guiding and mentoring younger generations as they organise relief and other essential efforts in emergency situations. Furthermore, older adults need to advocate for their needs and rights to ensure that their voices are heard and considered in policy documents. Many older persons engage in volunteer work during emergencies supporting vulnerable communities. Crises heighten feelings of anxiety, fear, and isolation, older adults can provide emotional support.

Older persons deserve special attention in times of crises

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