Heather L. Rutherford
Liberty University PTSD and Natural Disasters An increasing amount of elderly are exposed to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and tornados. The elderly/older adults are at heightened risk for mental health difficulties they may also have a harder time receiving assistance following a natural disaster (Parker et al., 2015). When faced with natural disasters elderly specifically are subject to greater senses of fear and loss, along injuries, this may make them question their sense of resilience and self-reliance (Parker et al., 2015). Moreover, older adults are 95% greater risk for experiencing PTSD because of natural disasters …show more content…
Additionally, there is a great likelihood for elderly morality during natural disasters because of some have limited mobility, they are also more likely to contract disease brought on by the disaster (Sugano, 2016). Research shows that survivors of Hurricane Karina experiences partial PTSD (acute stress disorder) 2-4 weeks following the devastation, (Sugano, 2016). Terrorist attacks although not really considered natural disasters, can have lasting effects on not only the people personally affected such as recovery workers, victims and families, but can have rippling effects throughout the world, especially when it comes to safety, (Sugano, 2016). Finally, when discussing natural disasters one of the key elements to remember is if the community and surrounding communities get together to rebuild then there is a great chance for not only economical recovery but …show more content…
Additionally, service members including veterans may self-stigmatized themselves because they do not what to be labelled as “crazy, dangerous or violent” because they will carry that as an emotional stigma trait, (Mittal et al., 2013). Stigmas for not seeking out assistance for PTSD when associated with older women have to do with their sense of losing their security (financial and physical) if they report the abuses, (Cook, Dinnen, & O'Donnell,