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Disaster Preparedness of Persons Requiring Special Care Ages 75 Years and Older Living in Areas at High Risk of Earthquake Disasters: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Pacific Coast Region of Western Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2020

Yuka Hattori ,
Tokiko Isowa ,
Mayuko Hiramatsu ,
Akiko Kitagawa  and
Mayumi Tsujikawa
Yuka Hattori*
Affiliation:
Course of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
Tokiko Isowa
Affiliation:
Course of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
Mayuko Hiramatsu
Affiliation:
Course of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
Akiko Kitagawa
Affiliation:
Course of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
Mayumi Tsujikawa
Affiliation:
Course of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Mie, Japan
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Yuka Hattori, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu City, Mie, 514-8507, Japan (e-mail: y-hattori@nurse.medic.mie-u.ac.jp).
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Abstract

Objective:

The aims of this study were to examine the preparedness of vulnerable people ages 75 years and older and to clarify the characteristics of older adults that are associated with disaster preparedness.

Methods:

We conducted interviews with persons requiring special care ages 75 years and older living in coastal communities of western Japan, where earthquakes and tsunami disasters are a concern. The survey included participant characteristics such as demographic indicators, physical function, health status, community involvement, and disaster preparedness. Binomial logistic regression analysis was performed with participant characteristics as independent variables and disaster preparedness as the dependent variables.

Results:

The characteristics related to disaster preparedness were age, family composition, cognitive function, level of interaction with neighbors, and participation in community activities.

Conclusions:

Being female, living alone, and having cognitive impairment were factors that led to decreased disaster preparedness. However, it was suggested that close human interactions in the community facilitated preparedness. Community engagement is crucial in reducing disaster damage and recovering effectively. In order to facilitate preparedness measures for persons requiring special care ages 75 and older, it is important to establish community preparedness.

Keywords

75 years and oldercommunity-dwelling elderlydisaster preparednessJapan
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 15 , Issue 4 , August 2021 , pp. 469 - 477
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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