Data from Louisiana State University Provide New Insights into Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (Elderly Perceptions of Social…

Data from Louisiana State University Provide New Insights into Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response (Elderly Perceptions of Social Capital and Age-Related Disaster Vulnerability)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week -- Investigators publish new report on Disaster Preparedness - Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response. According to news originating from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by VerticalNews editors, the research stated, "Elderly individuals are considered at elevated risk of disaster impacts owing to increased health concerns, reduced mobility, and fixed economic resources. Social capital can counteract these vulnerabilities by increasing the likelihood of hearing disaster warnings, providing social ties to assist with preparation and evacuation, and providing access to financial or nonfinancial resources."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Louisiana State University, "I aimed to analyze the relationship between age and perceptions of disaster-related social capital. I used mailed surveys and in-person interviews with a sample of residents from 2 Florida counties to study perceptions of social capital available for disaster. The results showed that age has a negative effect on perceptions of social capital resources available during a disaster. The elderly reported fewer social ties overall and much fewer social ties that could provide financial assistance, if necessary, during a disaster."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "These results indicate that social capital may not counteract the social vulnerabilities of elderly persons to disaster impacts."

For more information on this research see: Elderly Perceptions of Social Capital and Age-Related Disaster Vulnerability. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2017;11(1):48-55. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness can be contacted at: Cambridge Univ Press, 32 Avenue Of The Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473, USA.

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from M.A. Meyer, Louisiana State University, Dept. of Sociol, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.

Keywords for this news article include: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America, Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response, Disaster Preparedness, Investment and Finance, Louisiana State University.

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