ACCESS Health International-Philippines invited Mr. Francis Kupang, Executive Director of the Coalition of Services of the Elderly, to share his presentation on "Older Person's (OPs) Needs in Times of Emergencies." Mr. Kupang here talks about their experience in caring with and for the elderly during Typhoon Ondoy with the hope of applying the lessons they learned in preparing our communities to care for the elderly in times of disaster.

1. OLDER PEOPLE’S NEED
IN EMERGENCIES

2. FLOW OF PRESENTATION
 Older Person’s (OPs) Situation during
disasters
 OP needs and problems in emergency
and disaster crisis
 OP participation in emergency and relief
services
 Recommendations

3. OLDER PERSONS’ SITUATION DURING DISASTERS
 The older persons are one of
the vulnerable sectors during disasters becau
se of their physical condition.
 Usually the elderly experience hunger during
disaster because the distribution of
relief goods is not done in an orderly manner.
 Their needs are not attended to because
evacuation centers are not elderly friendly.
 Many senior citizens are more concerned
with the safety of their children and
grandchildren and are willing to sacrifice their
own safety.

4. OLDER PERSON’S SITUATION DURING DISASTERS
 Inaccessible evacuation centers.
 Lack of adequate transport facilities.
 Inadequate facilities in evacuation
centers (congested, lack of comfort
rooms, running water, sleeping
materials, problems on mobility, lack of
health service providers and facilities.
 Inadequate food supplies.
 No provision for essential medicines.

5. OLDER PEOPLE’S
NEED AND PROBLEM
IN EMERGENCY AND
DISASTER CRISES

6. BASIC NEEDS
In times of emergencies, the
immediate provision of basic
needs is critically important.
 Shortage in the
supply of food/relief goods
 Lack of potable water
supplies
 Lack of materials for shelter
 Lack of livelihood
opportunities

9. EVACUATION CENTER

10. OLDER PEOPLE’S
PARTICIPATION IN
EMERGENCY AND
RELIEF SERVICES

11. QUICK RESPONSE
 OPOs emergency meeting (for Quick
Response)
 Home visits in areas affected by the
disaster to know the older person
situation
- Identification of affected older persons
- Identification of immediate OP needs
 Resource generation/mobilization
 Relief Distribution

12. LEADERS EMERGENCY Packing of relief
MEETING
Identification of
beneficiaries Relief Distribution

13. REHABILITATION AND RECOVERY
 OPO’s Meeting
- Assessment/evaluation of
the quick response activities
- Presentation and sharing of
the needs of
older persons’ experience after disaster
- Planning
 Provision of shelter and livelihood
assistance
 Psycho-social intervention

14. LEADERS MEETING, CONSULTATION
MEETING, WORKSHOP

15. Rehabilitation and Recovery
DRR Orientation
and Building
community
Psycho- Alternative Shelter based
Livelihood social Energy mechanism in
Repair responding to
future disaster

16. SHELTER
ASSISTANCE

18. OLDER PEOPLE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE
RELIEF OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT BY
VARIOUS EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS,
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING
 National Government Agencies
 Local Government Units (provincial,
city/municipal, barangay)
 Non-Government Organization / Civil
Society Organization
 Churches / Religious Group

19. RECOMMENDATIONS:
HOW TO ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF OLDER
PEOPLE IN
EMERGENCIES

20. FOR LGUS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
 Conduct DNA-Damage Need Assessment
in partnership with the OPOs in the
community
 Establish coordination or working relations
with OPOs in emergency response
 Government agencies and LGUs should
designate a point person to coordinate all
emergency services with OPO

21. CONT.........
 Give priority to basic food and health
needs of older people during
emergencies
 Government agency / LGU emergency
service volunteers should have proper
orientation and knowledge of how to
address older people’s needs during
emergencies.

22. CONT.........
 LGUs should develop a comprehensive
DRRM Plan that integrates older
people-sensitive policies and measures
in emergencies.
 Strengthen coordination with OPOs in
emergency respose
 Enchance OPO participation in DRRM
planning and implementation

23. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY
ADVOCACY AND REFORM
 Establish a baseline information of the
capacities, vulnerabilities and needs of
older people at all levels of political units.
 Enchance and / or strengthen the
participation of older people and OPOs in
the identification of their problems and
needs, and the planning and
implementationof community
development programmes, including
programmes on Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management.

24. CONT....
 Integrate the older people agenda in all
levels of government planning and
programme development structures and
processes
 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
policies and plans of the national and local
government units should incorporate older
people’s needs and problems
 Building partnership with NGOs and CSOs
in facilitating the formation and / or
strengthening of community-based older
people organizations partners in
participatory development practice.

26. DAGHANG SALAMAT!
SALAMAT KAAYO!
SALAMAT KARAJAW!