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Motivating rural older residents to prepare for disasters: moving beyond personal benefits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2015

SATO ASHIDA ,
ERIN L. ROBINSON ,
JANE GAY  and
MARIZEN RAMIREZ
SATO ASHIDA*
Affiliation:
The University of Iowa Aging Mind and Brain Initiative (AMBI), Department of Community & Behavioral Health, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, USA.
ERIN L. ROBINSON
Affiliation:
The University of Iowa School of Social Work, Department of Community & Behavioral Health, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, USA.
JANE GAY
Affiliation:
Center for Disabilities and Development, The University of Iowa Children's Hospital, Iowa City, USA.
MARIZEN RAMIREZ
Affiliation:
The University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center, Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, The University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Sato Ashida, 145 North Riverside Drive, N411 CPHB, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

In the United States of America (USA), older adults in rural areas are at increased risk for adverse outcomes of disasters, partly due to medical needs, limited or long geographic distances from community resources, and less knowledge and motivation about preparedness steps. Older residents and ageing service providers in a rural community in the USA were interviewed regarding their perceptions about disasters and preparedness, and their reactions to the preparedness training programme using the concepts of the Extended Parallel Process Model. Participants generally indicated low motivation to engage in preparedness behaviours despite perceptions of personal risk and beliefs that preparedness behaviours were easy and could improve disaster outcomes. A theme of social relationships emerged from the data, with participants identifying social relationships as resources, barriers and motivators. People surrounding older adults can support or deter their preparedness behaviours, and sometimes elicit a desire to protect the wellbeing of others. Findings suggest two potential strategies to facilitate preparedness behaviours by moving beyond personal benefits: highlighting older adults' increased ability to protect the wellbeing of younger generations and their community by being prepared themselves, and engaging family, friends and neighbours in preparedness programmes to enhance the resilience of their social groups. Older adults in many cultures have a desire to contribute to their society. Novel and effective approaches to increase preparedness could target their social groups.

Keywords

older adultsdisaster preparednessExtended Parallel Process Model (EPPM)rural healthsocial relationships
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 36 , Issue 10 , November 2016 , pp. 2117 - 2140
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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