Living as a "frail elder" in NYC during the 2001 terrorist attacks, the challenges faced would be greater for this urban population group because living alone with no support system would make it more difficult to move out of the disaster zone. It is an extremely frightening experience especially because many neighbors do not know one another (regardless of age), and would be inattentive as they scramble to get their own loved ones out of harm's way. On the other hand, if the older person had at least one person to help them they would have hope regarding escape of the dangerous circumstances surrounding them. Additionally, if they did not have a car to move their possessions to a safe zone or drive to a hospital, fire department or police station for assistance it could to an already harrowing experience. Even though frail elders have logistical setbacks, it does not mean their minds are unclear.
For example, Hoyer & Roodin (2009) explain that growing old does not necessarily mean mental health problems will come along that effect decision-making processes. For example, deciding what needs to be done is contingent on the types of mental and emotive responses needed to get the undertaking completed, which hinges on the "working memory" and how fast elderly persons can manage deciphering pertinent communication. This slows down with age, and this is where it can become a problem during disastrous events where time is of the essence. There is also a drawback for the elderly when essential dynamic data processing capability is necessary before they can decide what needs to be done.
In addition, the ability to move quickly from one situation to the next is performed through brain activity connected with the prefrontal cortex and is less efficient in older individuals (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009, p.246, 249).
During catastrophic events, the ability to modify and control emotion-driven actions are part of mental stability that requires the aptitude to make sound choices that are not extreme or derail positive outcomes. Age-connected functional shortfalls do not always come about for fit older members of society, but many often require longer times to process information. Wisdom gained over the years affects how it assists with positive social and brain activities, in conjunction with competent thought processes. This suggests favored methods for techniques in problem-solving. Likewise, the value of perception and discernment is usually not diminished as much during healthy aging as is typically believed (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009, p.249).
Conversely, for a frail elder in poor health typically with co-morbidity of low mobility and poor health habits, additional difficulties arise during crisis events. Furthermore, men and women are different as it relates to how long they live and can be determined through a mixture of innate, natural or societal aspects. For instance, health habits, viewpoints, job or lifestyle selection all matter because unwise choices can lead to cardiovascular problems or breathing difficulties as people age. Similarly, car crashes, killing oneself, and quickened organ deterioration all affect males sooner than females and are directly linked to personal life choices. Many older adults live in destitution as well and it is reported that how much a person makes monetarily, if they are married, or their level of academic learning are significantly connected to the health of men. For women, the concern is more with their level of bodily fitness and how much control they have over it, in addition to availability to activities that make them happy.
Older men are reported to need greater direction in activities, as well as help when interacting with other senior citizens (Hoyer & Roodin, 2009, p.36). Mental abilities are less of a hindrance for frail elders than physical limitations when faced with catastrophic situations. Therefore, I would ensure I had emergency provisions available until rescue workers could assist me or I would ask neighbors for assistance. There is only so much a frail elder could realistically do for themselves during an unexpected disaster such as 9/11. Michelle
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