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Elderly Most in Danger as Hurricane Strikes
Sept. 16, 2004 - As Hurricane Ivan pummels the U.S.
Gulf Coast, Saint Louis University researchers warn that those most in
danger are the elderly, who are often frail and lack an able protector.
Older people are much more likely to suffer in a
disaster. Many are shut-ins and have no way to get help. In addition,
older people worry about disasters more than younger people, says John
Morley, M.D., director of the division of geriatric medicine at Saint
Louis University. Its important that we have the systems in place to
reassure them.
While weve examined how to communicate and support
other groups that are vulnerable to the effects of a terror attack or
disaster, we must not ignore the special needs of our elderly, adds Nina
Tumosa, Ph.D., professor of geriatric medicine at Saint Louis University
School of Medicine.
Weve done research on first responders and on
children. But the most vulnerable population in case of disaster is the
frail elderly. While every child has a responsible adult to take care of
them, most frail elderly are their own most responsible adults.
Some older adults live alone and are more dependent
on services, such as meals or home health care, brought in from the
outside. A disaster can play havoc with whether service providers can
continue to offer the assistance many seniors depend upon.
Some elderly are too frail to get out of a
dangerous situation by themselves. Compounding the problem, sometimes
they live with another frail elder. We need to know how to get them a
safety net, says Tumosa, who also is assistant director for education
at Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at St.
Louis Veterans Medical Center.
Saint Louis University and the GRECC at St. Louis
Veterans Medical Center have received a $750,000 grant from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to create a teaching tool that
reminds health care providers of the special attention they need to give
frail elders in case of a disaster.
The idea is to get everyone thinking and make sure
our frail elders continue to receive the special help they need, Tumosa
says.
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School
of Medicine is a pioneer in geriatric medicine, organ transplantation,
chronic disease prevention, cardiovascular disease, neurosciences and
vaccine research, among others. The School of Medicine trains physicians
and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides
health services on a local, national and international level. The
division of geriatric medicine is ranked among the top 10 by U.S. News &
World Reports.
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