Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
ELDERLY people who have already weathered life's storms are particularly vulnerable during a natural disaster. And recent flood rains that badly affected parts of Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas were impartial to their seniority.
Those who live alone are at even greater risk.
More than 50 seniors were flooded out of their homes over the last two weeks. Some, were luckier than others, and were returned home after a few days but others have ended up in a shelter.
"There was a 90-year-old living all alone over in Central Avenue. We also evacuated another sickly elderly from Mitchell Town to Lionel Town Hospital," said Nether Lyttle, Clarendon parish disaster co-ordinator.
Three of the 10 seniors in shelters in the south-western region of Clarendon last week Tuesday included 81-year-old Doris Griffith, who has a broken hip, her brother, 83-year-old George Griffith, who is blind, and 71-year-old Gladys Henry, who recently left hospital having suffered a stroke. All are housed at the Toll Gate All-Age school shelter.
Mr. Lyttle said that in most communities, elderly persons are looked out for and protected by neighbours and that, "the ones whose pictures you see in the paper are usually those in dire need because they have no relatives."
But one photo is one too many. Over in St. Catherine, last Labour Day, on May 23, at least three elderly citizens, unable to walk were found alone inside wooden huts in the Job Lane community in Spanish Town. Water had captured their yard space, and in one case had seeped under the door and was slowly rising on the dirt floor.
Thirty-five seniors in all were affected in St. Catherine, but they were relocated to the homes of relatives.
"Most were living with relatives. In some cases water went into their houses, in other cases there were landslides. Many of them are so devastated. They know that they live in flood-prone areas but they still go back because of financial constraints. But we thank God there have been no reports of deaths," said Bernice Lynch, St. Catherine parish co-ordinator with the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC).
Elderly flood victims, whether in shelters or not, receive packages of blankets, mattresses and food parcels which include 25 lbs of rice, cooking oil, canned foods, matches and candles.
Mr. Lyttle pointed out that a part of the difficulty they experience is what the elderly consider the shame of having to "depend on people, even though they are flooded out".
"But even though they like to be independent, at the shelters a strong sense of community is formed. They are safe and protected. In fact in some cases they are the voice of authority and help to keep the younger ones in line," Mr. Lyttle said.
Beverley Hall-Taylor, executive director of the NCSC, said the elderly are not overlooked during disasters as they are usually identified by the strong network of relief workers, which include state and non-governmental agencies.
"There isn't a long delay in reaching the elderly. I've gone to shelters to visit and they are properly cared for. They're not hungry and they are provided with other things they might need such as pampers (adult disposable diapers)," Mrs. Hall-Taylor said.
Nadine Newsome, public education officer at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), said, "the elderly, pregnant women and children are given priority in relocation."
However, Dr. Denise Eldemire-Shearer, chairperson for the NCSC pointed out that the estimated 25,000 senior citizens living alone are also prone to peculiar health risks in natural disasters such as floods.
"They are at high risk of getting chest infections and old persons don't shake pneumonia that easily. Many also lose their medication which may not be replaced that easily because they don't have money, and for illnesses like diabetes this would be a problem," Dr. Eldemire-Shearer said.
Mrs. Hall-Taylor said doctors visit shelters to check on patients and health care is available at local hospitals.
