Unlike other representatives of society, the elder people cannot immediately react to hazards and risks for responding to emergencies, are less mobile and are dependent on the others. The vulnerability of elders and their capacities are often ignored during emergencies, whereas the collection of data about age and sex can make the needs of people in DRR visible.

1. ElderpeopleandDRR
According to international classification, people reaching 65 years of age are
defined as elders. However, in the Republic ofArmenia the age 63 is defined
as retirement age. According to the data of the World Health Organization, in
2050 2bn. people in world will be 60 years old or more.As of January 1, 2015,
the number of 63 years old people constitutes 371.3 thousand or 12.3% of
population. Women constitute 59.7% of elders and 15.6 % of elders are
peoplewithdisabilities.
Unlike other representatives of society, the elder people cannot immediately
react to hazards and risks for responding to emergencies, are less mobile and
aredependentontheothers.
The vulnerability of elders and their capacities are often ignored during
emergencies, whereas the collection of data about age and sex can make the
needsofpeopleinDRR visible.
Life experience, skills and knowledge of elders can be valuable in different
DRR processes which should be appreciated, valued and included in the
proposals, thus promoting their participation in program development,
realizationandassessmentstages.
Often elder people leaving 60 years and more may experience the hazards for
several times in their life. Many of them, based on their experience, know
well what to do, are ready to help and assist the people who appeared in
difficultsituations.

2. However, elder people are very often vulnerable and have special needs
especially when they have age-related chronic diseases limiting to certain
extent their mobility, cognitive or other functions. They may have
psychological depression caused by emergencies. They become also
vulnerable due to social and economic constraints hindering them to be
prepared for hazards, response and adapt to them. In addition, they are not
properlyinformedaboutpossiblehazards.
The RA legislation specifies that elder people should be ensured by decent
standard of living. The RA legislation and policy are directed to social
protection of elder people. The RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
highlights, as central issues of the sphere, improvement of quality of
provided social service and care to the elder people, access and affordability
of services, improvement of care and social services, as well as sanitary and
hygieneconditions ofcarehomesetc.
In the legal acts regulating DRR sphere, the needs of elders like the needs of
disabledpeoplearenotaddressed.
The criteria of including the elder people in DRR should be based on the
followingthreeprinciples:
Legislation
MainprinciplesofinvolvingelderpeopleinDRR
Legislation
MainprinciplesofinvolvingelderpeopleinDRR
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addressingspecialneedsinallDRR processes,
collectionofdataaccordingtoageandsex,
involvement of elders in DRR projects taking into account their life
experienceandknowledge.
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Elder people are particularly addressed in disaster management and climate
polices,requiringdirectactionsinplanning,budgetingandtrainingstages.
Consideration of vulnerability and capacities of elders during assessment of
localandnationalhazardsandclimaterisks,
Warning messages and information are accessible, understandable and
applicablebyelderpeople.
Concrete actions for evacuation plans at local level ensuring evacuation and
protection of elders, including actions envisaged for elders with limited mobility,
speechandhearingimpairmentsandpsychologicaldisorders.
Disaster supplies and stocks including assistive devices, medicines and food are
requiredandaccessibletoeldersduringdisasters.
Evacuation and leisure centers are equipped with benches above the ground,
handrails,haveaccesstowheelchairsandareseparatedformenandwomen.
Collection of statistic data according to sex, age, disability for the following
age groups: 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80+ in disaster management and risk
Indicators ensuring the fulfillment of these principles are as
follows:
Indicators ensuring the fulfillment of these principles are as
follows:

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how to receive regular updated information about emergencies,
developments and course of events by stationary telephone, cellular phone,
computer,radio,TVorothermeansof communication,
chose safe and familiar places to assemble together with family members
duringemergencies,
set up individual support group comprising of family members, relatives,
neighbors,communitymembersetc,
have individual essential belongings, ready-to-use food and water, first aid
kits, candles or torches, copies of important documents in waterproof bags
etc.
create informational medical list including the name and contacts of
medical doctor and diagnosis, state the use of special assistive appliances,
allergy diseases or other needs of elders. Prepare medicines for seven days
incaseofnothavinganopportunitytocontactorfindthesemedicines,
make emergency information list for the others to know whom to apply if
youneedanassistance,
install fire safety system in the house, test it, develop and test the evacuation
planforseveraltimes,
make the houses, places where the elders mostly stay safe, move or remove the
furniturethatcancloseexits.
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reductioninitiatives.
Training of health, search, rescue, management, coordination, food,
protection staff for working with elderly people and responding to their specific
needsduringemergencies.
Knowledge, skills and contributions of elderly people in disaster risk
managementarerecognizedandpromotedathighlevels.
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Elder people have access to cash transfers and livelihoods recovery
initiatives.
Flexible and climate-smart initiatives include elder people who
continueworking.
Elder people are presented in DRR management process by the
communityandatnationallevel forensuringtheirvoicestobeheard.
Active social protection system, availability and access to pensions,
operating cash transfer mechanisms. Elder people have access to hazard
insuranceandriskdirectedtransfermechanisms.
Actions for elder people and members of their families
One of the essential preconditions for supporting elders is development of
individual action plans, as well as development of their capacities for
preventing and responding to disaster risks. These activitiesshould include the
followingactions:
develop family communication plan providing information on how to
informeachotherabout disaster risks, how andwho tocontact,
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Preparatory work. Main actions

4. diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In case of emergencies the
eldersshould haveinsulin,pillsimproving bloodcoagulation.
8. Works with guardians or supporting services if elder people live alone and
receive medical treatment and care at home. They must be ready to respond to
emergenciesandprovideassistanceincaseofnecessity.
9. Senior homes and special institutions where elder people live should be in
the focus of attention. They must feel safe and secure in these houses and
receivethesameservicesandsupportlikeothermembersofcommunity.
10. Elder people are more sensitive to cold and extreme heat, temperature
fluctuationsorextremeweatherpatternsthanothers.
11. Individual needs of elders should be considered while providing them with
shelters during emergencies, for example such shelters should be located in
quietplacesasfarasitispossible.
12. During rehabilitation works following disaster or emergency situations,
elder people should be provided with psychological assistance. In addition to
medical assistance and food, they often need communication more, especially
withpeergroups.
Activities for local self-governing bodies, civil society members
andresponsiblepeople
1. It is necessary to create DRR database including the number of elders living
in the community, their location, senior centers, soup kitchens, hospitals, care
homeskeepingindividualdataconfidentiality.
2. Elder people are not prone to leave their houses. Even anticipating hazards
cannot force them to leave their houses or community. In such cases patience
should bedisplayedandtheirwillshould berespected.
3.Informabouttheresourcesandservicesprovidedbythecommunity.
4. Inform about expected emergencies that may occur in the given region, city
orcommunity.
5. Conduct trainings for volunteers to take care of elders as their children,
relativesmaybefarawayduringemergencies.
6. Develop individual evacuation plan by assessing the capacities of elder
people and considering their needs, clear what actions they can take
independentlyandwhatadditionalassistancetheyneed.
7. Diseases of elder people that may cause also disability include cancer,
Activities for local self-governing bodies, civil society members
andresponsiblepeople