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<p>Over the past decade, climate-induced calamities have become more frequent in coastal regions around the world, causing immense loss of human life. Across age groups, older adults are among the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Despite this, the perspectives of older adults remain underrepresented in disaster risk management frameworks. Because understanding the unique needs and contributions of specific populations in climate-vulnerable countries is essential in the design of equitable and effective disaster management strategies, this qualitative study explores the experiences of elderly individuals of evacuation, shelter living, and access to support services during tropical cyclones in Coastal Bangladesh. Data were collected through 15 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with individuals residing in cyclone-prone areas. The findings reveal that elderly individuals in cyclone shelters often face widespread discrimination and neglect. Low social status, a lack of age-sensitive infrastructure, and inadequate mobility support hinder their access to essential services. Many participants reported feeling invisible during relief operations and suffering psychological distress due to both the disaster and the treatment they received while displaced. The study underscores critical shortcomings in current disaster response strategies and recommends integrating age-inclusive measures into disaster planning and response, such as the development of accessible shelters, the training of first responders in age sensitivity, and the formal involvement of older adults in community-based emergency preparedness initiatives.</p>

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"There was no advantage to being old in the shelter": experiences of older adults to tropical cyclone in the Coastal Bangladesh

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月10日

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  • Md. Abdul Malak,
  • Hasiba Afrose Tamanna,
  • Mohammad Abdul Quader,
  • Sumaiya Ferdous

摘要

Over the past decade, climate-induced calamities have become more frequent in coastal regions around the world, causing immense loss of human life. Across age groups, older adults are among the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Despite this, the perspectives of older adults remain underrepresented in disaster risk management frameworks. Because understanding the unique needs and contributions of specific populations in climate-vulnerable countries is essential in the design of equitable and effective disaster management strategies, this qualitative study explores the experiences of elderly individuals of evacuation, shelter living, and access to support services during tropical cyclones in Coastal Bangladesh. Data were collected through 15 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with individuals residing in cyclone-prone areas. The findings reveal that elderly individuals in cyclone shelters often face widespread discrimination and neglect. Low social status, a lack of age-sensitive infrastructure, and inadequate mobility support hinder their access to essential services. Many participants reported feeling invisible during relief operations and suffering psychological distress due to both the disaster and the treatment they received while displaced. The study underscores critical shortcomings in current disaster response strategies and recommends integrating age-inclusive measures into disaster planning and response, such as the development of accessible shelters, the training of first responders in age sensitivity, and the formal involvement of older adults in community-based emergency preparedness initiatives.