An Elder person faces many cognitive, biological, and cultural problems when facing an emergency such as the attacks in New York City, during September 11th 2001. His challenges will be greater, and in the cases of low mobility and bad health, could increase the likely hood of him becoming a casualty.
Cognitive decline in a frail elder will lead to problems in attending to his environment, processing speed, and understanding of complex new input situations, such as the bombing of the world trade center. This would lead to problems in: understanding the nature of the emergency, ability to find his ways on streets that have been altered in appearance, following directions from emergency personnel, and the filling out of emergency forms.
Biological problems are dictated by comorbidity and bad health. A frail elder would be hard put to escape from danger by running, or walking. Elderly health conditions dictate the mobility of elders, and the body no longer has the ability to balance or endure as it did while younger. An elder would be hard pressed to climb over debris without falling or hurting himself. Indeed even without the complex problem of disturbed and destroyed earth under an elder’s feet in the case of the 911 bombing affected areas, 1 out of 3 seniors dies or is seriously injured when over the age of 65 in every day normal situations. (Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview: http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html)
Cultural problems are dictated by ageism, health care plans, wealth, and response plans for seniors. The bias of aegism, Health care plans for many seniors are not comprehensive or adequate for emergency injuries faced during 911. Those who are poor especially may have no idea how to use government health programs, and could be denied medical attention due to lack of information. Finding and directing seniors to care facilities would be another large cultural problem in our society. Response plans currently put out information on radio’s and televisions that seniors may have a hard time understanding. First responders who do not understand the limits of cognitive and biological decay in the elderly would not understand how to break this information down to the elderly. The 109th Congress put out a recommendation that all emergency services:
social workers, etc.) in all aspects of emergency preparedness
and care delivery. Gerontologists should be involved in the training
of frontline workers and other first responders about frail adults'
unique needs.” (SAFEGUARDING AMERICA'S SENIORS:WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCIES: Kohl h, 2006, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 30-361 WASHINGTON)
Conclusions:
The challenges for an elderly senior are vast and difficult in a complex scene such as the bombing of 911. Our governments challenge to aid seniors with cognitive, biological, and cultural problems is a vast undertaking, and challenge for first aid responders, and emergency personnel. Our country must rise to this challenge with new technology, such as tracking electronically elderly personnel, provide experts in the problems of the elderly to train these personnel. The unique challenges for helping the elderly is growing problem in all cities due to the decline of death at younger ages. Our nation must rise to this challenge, and prepare its personnel to be familiar with this great challenge for America.
REFERENCES:
Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview:http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html)
SAFEGUARDING AMERICA'S SENIORS:WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCIES: Kohl h, 2006, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 30-361 WASHINGTON