SURVIVING DISASTER: WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM ELDERLY CIVILIANS' SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL COPING WITH MISSILE ATTACK

PRESENTER:  Renee Garfinkel, Ph.D.

Months of Scud Missile attacks on the civilian populations of Israeli cities
during the Gulf War should have led to increased sickness and death rates,
especially among the vulnerable elderly who live in nursing homes. Yet, a
study of the residents of two homes found quite the opposite to be the case.
Not only were morbidity and mortality not increased, but levels of cooperation, 
empathy, and civility seemed to increase. The study examined elements of staff 
behavior, public policy, communications, formal and informal support that
fostered psychological resilience and effective coping under mass threat.

The presentation will discuss how those elements and principles can be
taught and how they can be integrated into disaster preparation, disaster
response and staff training.

 
Return To Conference Page