Adverse legacy for older people in Hurricane Katrina
A study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that the health of survivors 65 and over declined nearly four times that of a national sample in the year following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“The enormous health burden experienced by older individuals and the disruptions in service utilisation reveal the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina on this vulnerable population,” said Jonathan Weiner, PhD, senior author of the study and director of the Bloomberg School’s Program in Health Services Research and Policy.
“Although quick rebuilding of the provider network may have attenuated more severe health outcomes for this managed care population, new policies must be introduced to deal with the health consequences of a major disaster.”