Elderly after a Disaster: Not Only Victims but also Resilient People

Confidence or Optimism Toward the Future

Many elderlies mentioned feeling more optimistic toward the future, because the disaster allowed them to realize that local and extra-territorial solidarity can manifest themselves in these circumstances. They now believe they will get help when in difficulty. Even if they say they’re confident towards what the future holds, those who answered noted that they grant less importance to their financial situation than before and that they take things much more lightly, day by day, without too much planning or project elaboration.

Personal Safety Feeling

A few of those who answered felt safer because they relocated farther from the water’s edge or because they were living in a new home in spite of feeling a greater vulnerability in relation to the elements of nature and of feeling less secure, fearing more and stronger natural disasters.

Personal Growth

A good number of senior citizens think that their level of selfesteem grew because they realized the pertinence of the choices and the options, they favored during the disaster and during the recovery phase. A few of those who answered our questions noted they had a better self-esteem because many times, they had to insist on their rights with different people and those in authority and show tenacity. The ability to express oneself is also an aspect that some have admitted having gotten out of the experience. Some elderly has also stated granting less importance to other people’s opinion and displaying more determination in the elaboration of their projects.

Many victims consider themselves better equipped to react to a possible disaster and evoke the fact that having lived through such a test has brought them a feeling of competence underestimated until now. The diminishing of prejudice, the sensitivity towards difficulties others have survived through, the increased openmindedness and empathy are also aspects associated to personal growth. Certain participants also said that their exposition to a disaster brought them to discover personal resources (autonomy, resourcefulness, etc.) they did not know they had. Many of those who answered believe they will be able to use the resources at their disposal more efficiently if a similar event arises.

Spirituality

In general, the religious beliefs or spiritual values stayed the same. However, many of the interviewed elderly mentioned that their beliefs in God helped them face the hardships.

Questioning Personal Values

A few elderly evoked that the losses or the damage they suffered led them to a deep consideration on the importance granted to material things, even if it demands a certain effort. Many of the interviewed elderly also stated that their priorities have changed, and they now grant more importance to their conjugal and family relationships and by being more sensitive to the hardship’s others may have to deal with in their lives. Many have noted a reconciliation, a better understanding and a strengthening of the ties between spouses and the other members of their entourage. The hardships lived at the human relationship level in the first months following the disaster, because of the different stresses then, made way for deeper feelings, a better comprehension and communication as well as an undeniable mutual support.

Acceptance of Outside Help

Among the interviewed elderly people, many mentioned having learned how to ask for help and to accept to receive help from their immediate surroundings but also from others, including the help offered by paid workers and volunteers. Moreover, these people also noted that they show more availability to help those individuals with problems.

Conclusion

Our different studies we realized with the elderly have allowed us to note that natural or technological disaster victims may notice a deterioration of their health, that they are susceptible of experiencing positive changes to their beliefs and personal values. In spite of the differences of opinion between the researchers concerning elderly people’s capacity to overcome the different stresses linked to the exposure to a disaster, we find in different disaster contexts, that the elderly have shown resilience in spite of the negative repercussions these events had on their psychological and physical health. In spite of their material losses and their physical and psychological problems, the varied stresses they experienced and the temporary modification to their lifestyles have been able to note that unsuspected qualities and strengths are within them and will enable them to resolve their problems and defend their interests with the authorities that are sometimes refractory to the victim’s needs. Elderly are not only victims in case of disaster, but they are also people able to identify positive aspects on their life after their exposition of this kind of event.

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