Drawing on FEMA's 2023 National Household Survey of 2,225 respondents, this study examined how prior natural disaster experience relates to perceived preparedness among older adults, and the psychosocial factors that operate between the two. Older adults carry elevated disaster risk stemming from physical, cognitive, and social vulnerabilities, making perceived readiness a meaningful determinant of survival and post-event recovery in an era of intensifying climate-driven events.
Key Points
- FEMA 2023 national survey data analyzed across 2,225 older-adult respondents
- Psychosocial factors mediate disaster experience and perceived preparedness
- Physical, cognitive, and social vulnerabilities compound older adults' disaster risk
Longevity Analysis
Preparedness is a measurable expression of perceived control, and perceived control governs how the stress response behaves when circumstances turn acute. In older adults, an event that disrupts medication access, temperature regulation, hydration, and sleep for even a few days can erase years of accumulated physiological reserve. The actionable layer is not information but rehearsal — supplies, contacts, and contingency plans established while conditions are calm, so that the nervous system meets the event with a plan rather than improvisation.
Original published by SAGE Research on Aging, by Yanjun Dong, Jeesoo Jung1School of Social Welfare, College of Integrated Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA2Center for Healthy Aging, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA.