Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

Since time immemorial, natural disasters have become one of the major hazards to human race. With the occurrence of climate changes in different parts of the globe, disasters have become more persistent and damaging. The vulnerable sectors of the society, like the older adults, are generally the ones who are predominantly affected by these disasters. As populations are now growing out to be aged and mature, it is essential that we cognize how older adults perceive, respond, engage, and recover in disaster situations. There have been notions that older adults’ voices are muted and not considered crucial in disasters. However, taking the case of Super Typhoon Haiyan, I argue that since the consequences of calamity on older adults are more substantial, their voices should be more acknowledged and valued. Findings show that older adults are able social actors who have the power and agency. In this paper, I also report their stories of struggles and survival during the post-disaster period. Older adults, likewise, explicate their insights about their roles in disasters. It is hoped that through this research, policy makers can institutionalize elderly’s proactive commitment in community resilience and participation vis-à-vis disaster risks.