Physical factors such as having chronic illnesses that need specific treatment interventions, changes in organ functions, weakened physical health, decreased sensory awareness, mobility issues, slower reaction times, nutritional deficiencies, and disability are the main contributing factors of vulnerability of elderly

Why are elderly people vulnerable to disaster?

Although the short-term effect of the disasters on the physical well-being of older adults has been largely studied and proven that they are more vulnerable because of decreased sensory awareness, physical impairment, chronic medical conditions, and socioeconomic limitations experienced by many of the elderly,^5–7

How does age affect vulnerability?

Key facts: Advanced age by itself does not create vulnerability. However, certain problems that are more common in old age can increase vulnerability. They include decreased strength, poor tolerance of physical activity, functional limitations, and decreased sensory awareness.

Which of the following age groups are more vulnerable to a disaster?

According to researchers [7,54, 55], humans in their early stages and elderly people are the most vulnerable groups, and both are likely to experience a slower recovery in the face of disasters.

What are vulnerable populations?

Vulnerable populations include patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions. Members of vulnerable populations often have health conditions that are exacerbated by unnecessarily inadequate healthcare.

Why older people are more susceptible to COVID-19?

An individual with a biological age greater than their chronological age is thought to be undergoing accelerated aging, which may increase the risk of COVID-19 fatality. Individuals with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and COPD, are at greater risk for COVID-19 fatality.

What are the 4 main types of vulnerability?

The different types of vulnerability In the table below four different types of vulnerability have been identified, Human-social, Physical, Economic and Environmental and their associated direct and indirect losses.

Why are some people vulnerable to disaster?

Population growth and distribution, especially increased population density and urbanization, increases vulnerability to disasters. Nearly 80 percent of the U.S. population resides in urban areas, resulting in increasing population concentration in coastal communities and flood-prone areas.

Who are most vulnerable and affected due to disasters?

Among lives lost in disasters, at least one out of three is a child below 18 years. Children are the worst affected during disasters due to physical, psychological and social vulnerabilities. The major impact remains due to physical vulnerability as children bear the brunt of shock due to any disaster.

What does the population say about disaster vulnerability?

In terms of people’s vulnerability to natural hazards, more than half of the population (52.3 percent) thought children are the most vulnerable, followed by the elderly (51.9 percent), poor people (35 percent), and people with disabilities (23 percent).

What are vulnerable and protected populations?

The federal regulations require that IRBs give special consideration to protecting the welfare of particularly vulnerable subjects, such as children, prisoners, pregnant women, mentally disabled persons, or economically or educationally disadvantaged persons.

Who are the most vulnerable to disaster?

One measure of the strength of a community’s response and recovery system is its attentiveness to its most vulnerable citizens– children, the frail elderly, the disabled, and the impoverished and disenfranchised. It is a cruel fact: disasters discriminate.

Which of the following is an example of a vulnerable population?

Groups of people who are disadvantaged in some way are considered vulnerable populations. Examples of vulnerable populations include children, people with schizophrenia, pregnant women, and homeless people. A population can be deemed vulnerable due to having a high level of physical, psychological, and/or social risk.