Disaster response for older adults in the Tai Po residential estate fire

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported 402,000 residential fi res in 2003, resulting in 3,165 deaths and incurring $6,074,000,000 in property damage (Karter, 2004). This represented an increase of 17.4% in residential fi re deaths compared to 2002, although the overall number of fi res and property losses did not increase. Residential fi re deaths have been declining steadily since the late 1970s, with a relative plateau since the early 1990s. Smoking materials are the leading cause of fatal residential fi res (20%), with 40% of smoking-related fi re victims being older than 65 years of age (Hall, 2004). Cooking is the leading cause of residential fi res and nonfatal injuries (Hall, 2005). Despite 96% smoke alarm prevalence for U.S. homes with a telephone in 2004, 40% of residential fi res still occur in homes without a smoke alarm, and among homes with alarms, 25% are not functioning at the time of the fi re. In 1999–2001, an average of 70% of residential fi re deaths resulted from fi res in homes with either no smoke alarms or in which no smoke alarm sounded (Ahrens, 2004). Nearly every high-risk group for residential fi re fatality is less likely to install smoke alarms, including the poor, seniors, heavy drinkers, households with less than high school education, and those in rural areas and in the Southern United States (Ahrens, 2004; Hall, 1985; Hall, 1994). In 2002, for all ages combined, fi res and burns were the 6th leading cause of unintentional injury mortality, and the 14th leading cause of nonfatal injury (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2005). Approximately 6% of people with residential fi re-related injuries are hospitalized, with slightly more than half being admitted for carbon monoxide poisoning and the remainder for burns (CDC, 2003). Children and older adults have the highest rates of fi re-related

Remembering When™ (RW) is a falls and fire prevention program delivered by fire service personnel and homecare organizations to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible. This study evaluated changes in falls prevention and fire safety behaviors and perceptions and social support associated with falls and residential fires among older adults following delivery of the RW program by fire service personnel. In a convenience sample of adults 65 + years residing in five Iowa communities, 70 received the RW program during a home visit and 75 received the RW program in a group presentation followed by a home visit. Baseline and follow-up telephone interviews were conducted to assess changes in falls and fire safety behaviors, perceptions and social support. Changes were assessed using McNemar's exact test and paired sample t-tests. To control for dependence of 26 households with two participants, one participant was randomly selected and included in the analysis (n = 119). The RW program improved falls and residential fire prevention behaviors among older adults. Perceived efficacy to prevent falls increased from baseline (p = 0.047). Perceived susceptibility (p = 0.021) and control of fires (p = 0.000) increased while perceived severity (p = 0.025) and fear of residential fires (p = 0.019) decreased when compared to baseline. The proportion of participants reporting discussing falls with friends and family increased (p < 0.001), and more participants reported discussing fire prevention with healthcare professionals (p = 0.039). Fire service personnel can be effective deliverers of falls prevention information to older adults.

Nonfall injuries are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. In addition to the loss of life and human suffering, the economic costs and the changes in lifestyle are important aspects of the consequences of trauma. Rates of injury as a result of MVCs (occupant and pedestrian), suicide, and residential fire are higher in the younger and older segments of the population, as indicated by J-shaped or U-shaped curves. Domestic violence against older adults is a recognized, but not well investigated, problem. Although risk factors have been identified for some of the cause specific injuries, the continuation of epidemiologic research is important to elucidate risk factors, especially those for which interventions can be developed. The development, implementation, and evaluation of the intervention programs are necessary for a multifaceted approach to injury control in older adults.

It has been known for a long time that older adults suffer a significantly higher risk of dying in residential fires compared to younger people. The characteristics of these fatal fires and the fatalities are also well known. However, less is known about older adults who survive fires and how they differ from those who die. This distinction can be assumed to be of great importance when designing effective prevention efforts.In the current paper, factors that contribute to survival of older adults (65+) has been investigated together with factors that contribute to different modes of evacuation (e.g. evacuation assisted by neighbours) based, primarily, on incident reports.The results show that fewer than half of the victims (39%) evacuated independently and many rely on evacuation assisted by neighbours (18%), first-responders (27%) or homecare personnel (8%).Living in urban areas was found to increase the odds of survival. Based on the results from the analysis of evacuation, this is likely due to a combination of proximity to neighbours and a short response time. For successful evacuation by non-firefighters, the fires often had to be confined to the object of ignition while the rescue service could evacuate from larger fires.

The majority of studies on stressful life events focus on posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, while less is known about whether the cumulative exposure to stressful life events over the life course will deteriorate cognitive function. This study aims to investigate the association between lifetime stressful life events and cognitive function in an immigrant population. The data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample of 3125 U.S. Chinese older adults in 2017–2019. Twelve types of stressful life events were assessed: physical assault, residential fires, sexual assault, miscarriage, abortion, imprisonment, being falsely accused, divorce, death of a loved one, being robbed, experiencing cancer, and being homeless. Cognitive function was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Linear regression was performed. Older adults who experienced a higher number of life events were associated with higher global cognition (b = 0.11, SE = 0.01, p &lt; 0.001), episodic memory (b = 0.14, SE = 0.02, p &lt; 0.001), working memory (b = 0.17, SE = 0.03, p &lt; 0.001), processing speed (b = 1.92, SE = 0.18, p &lt; 0.001), and MMSE (b = 0.29, SE = 0.07, p &lt; 0.001), while controlling for age, gender, income, education, medical comorbidities, ADL, and depressive symptoms. In contrast with earlier studies, we identified the positive relationships between aggregate and individual life events and cognition. Older adults who had prior experience with stressful life events could demonstrate an advantage over those without such experiences. In addition, older adults who experienced life event(s) during adulthood and old age are associated with higher cognitive function. Further studies could investigate how individuals respond to stressful life events and how the underlying resilience mechanism would promote cognitive function.

The majority of studies on traumatic life events focus on posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, while less is known whether the cumulative exposure to traumatic events over the life course will deteriorate cognitive function. This study aims to investigate the association between lifetime traumatic events and cognitive function in an immigrant population. The data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample of 3,126 U.S. Chinese older adults in 2017-2019. Twelve types of traumatic events were assessed: physical assault, residential fires, sexual assault, miscarriage, abortion, imprisonment, being falsely accused, divorce, death of a loved one, being robbed, experiencing cancer, and being homeless. Cognitive function was measured through global cognition, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Linear regression was performed. In our sample, the maximum traumatic events experienced by one participant are eight types. Older adults who experienced one additional personal event were associated with higher global cognition (b=0.101, SE=0.012), episodic memory (b=0.130, SE=0.016), working memory (b=0.151, SE=0.034), processing speed (b=1.709, SE=0.178), and MMSE (b=0.124, SE=0.057), while controlling for age, gender, income, and education. In contrast with earlier studies, we identified the positive relationships between traumatic events and cognition. Older adults who had prior experience with stressful life events could demonstrate an advantage over those without such an experience. Further studies could investigate how individuals would respond to stressful life events, and how their resilience mechanism would promote cognitive function.

This paper concerns the fire safety needs of older people living in private residences. It includes consideration of the limitations of current consumer fire safety products (primarily smoke detectors) and design improvements that better meet the human factors requirements of this population. Older people suffer especially high residential fire death rates, and most of these deaths occur in private homes, where the resident/victim had primary responsibility for fire safety. The literature on human behavior during fires indicates certain differences in the behavior of older and younger adults, but this is based on limited data from often inappropriate populations (institutional settings). A review of currently available products, and their use, found that these products did not adequately meet the needs, nor match the capabilities, of older people. In fact, the need to climb to ceiling level to install, test, and maintain single station smoke alarms introduces a significant safety hazard of its own. Focus discussion groups of older homeowners identified various attitudes, problems, and behaviors, important for improved product design. A review of existing products and technologies identified various features which could benefit elderly users, and practical technologies that could be adapted from other applications (e.g., security systems). Based on the literature review, product/technology review, and focus groups, a set of fire-safety product needs and desirable features was developed, including a set of seventeen specific design features/functions. Substantial improvement in fire safety product usefulness for older users can be achieved in a cost-effective manner.

Introduction: Despite a positive long-term trend in fire mortality rates, more knowledge is required concerning the causes and typologies of fatal residential fires in order to improve preventative efforts and further decrease fatality rates. A previous study suggested that fatal residential fires can be grouped into six categories, however, the analyses were performed on a limited dataset that is now more than a decade old. As such, there are some uncertainties regarding the current situation. Also, in the previous study, no subgroups were analyzed separately, despite fatal fires being renowned for being strongly age-dependent. Method: This study re-analyzes the typologies for fatal residential fires in Sweden using cluster analysis, based on data for a period of 20 years with a particular focus on older adults. Results: The results suggest that the original cluster analyses were relatively robust for both the total population and for the elderly population, thereby indicating that fatal fires seem to be consistently grouped into certain types. Conclusions: The results suggest that preventative efforts can be directed toward these types of events involving identified individuals. The results also suggest that the number of fatal residential fires with unknown causes has increased in relation to other fires during the 20-year study period. Practical Implications: Fatal residential fires with unknown causes are more often large night-time fires occurring in houses in rural locations. In order to prevent these, both prevention and reactive strategies need to be re-evaluated.

Individuals experience various traumatic events over the life course, but little is known about the patterns of lifetime exposure to traumatic events. This study aims to identify traumatic event typology and examine its relationship with physical function. Data were from the 2017-2019 PINE study (N= 3,125). Traumatic events were evaluated by earthquake, typhoon, tornado, residential fire, physical assault, robbery, sexual assault, divorce, bereavement, cancer, homeless, imprisonment, and falsely accused. Physical function was measured by activities of daily living (ADL), with lower scores indicating better physical function. Analysis was conducted using latent class analysis and the four-class model fits the data best. We identified four typologies: limited trauma, severe trauma, natural disaster, and mild-to-moderate trauma. The “limited trauma” (33.8%) has the lowest exposure to all traumatic events except typhoon and homeless. In contrast, an equivalent “severe trauma” (33.3%) has the highest exposure to all traumatic events except natural disasters. A small “natural disaster” (4.8%) has the highest exposure to natural disaster and moderate exposure to other traumatic events. The “mild-to-moderate trauma” (28.2%) has mild-to-moderate trauma exposures. The mild-to-moderate trauma group (M=0.38, SD=2.12) has better physical function than limited trauma (M=0.69, SD=3.08), severe trauma (M=0.61, SD=2.81), and natural disaster (M=0.71, SD=3.22) groups. After controlling confounding variables, the mild-to-moderate trauma group has lower risks of ADL impairment than the limited trauma group (OR=0.66, 95%CI=0.47-0.93). The findings suggest mild-to-moderate exposure to traumatic events might benefit older adults’ health, while limited trauma might not be able to develop resilience and severe trauma overwhelms coping strategies.

Fire safety among the elderly in Western Australia

Physical inactivity in older adults presents a significant problem within contemporary society. Governments around the world are recognising this importance and the large impact of physical inactivity on health and health-related expenditure, yet interventions promoting physical activity have typically produced only small or short‐lived behaviour change. Through three related studies, this thesis aims to develop a person-centred, multi-level physical activity intervention within a residential estate of older adults. The first study used qualitative methods to develop a person-centred understanding of the multi-level influencers of physical activity engagement within the targeted individuals. These findings were then applied within study 2, which implemented a 12-week physical activity intervention within the residential estate and used a mixed-methods approach to assess its implementation and explore personal experiences of the intervention strategies designed by the person-centred approach. The final study explored the transitions associated with older adults to develop an understanding of purpose, meaning and identity in later life, and how this can influence physical activity behaviour. The findings of the third study were presented within a composite vignette of the transition experiences of 4 older adults within the residential estate. The thesis presents an effective and appropriate strategy for developing person-centred, multi-level physical activity intervention for older adults. Contrary to the health-focused emphasis that is predominantly adopted by public health initiatives, the findings of this thesis highlight the importance of purpose, and related constructs such as meaning and identity for understanding and promoting physical activity behaviour in older adults. The findings suggest that future person-centred physical activity interventions for older adults should take into consideration the changes in sense of purpose as individuals become older and design intervention strategies to maximise a sense of purpose in life, and to provide more meaningful sources of physical activity.

Against the backdrop of rapid population ageing and widespread urbanisation, this review explores older people’s needs in urban disaster response. We conducted a systematic review of 120 publications across several related fields – disaster management, gerontology, and urban governance. We identified five needs of older people in disaster response: health, socioeconomic, evacuation and settlement, information and communication, and cultural needs. We find that older adults’ needs were insufficiently met for four main reasons. First, a lack of understanding of the relationships between different needs poses challenges to coordinating disaster response, particularly when relief aid targets different needs in an uncoordinated fashion. Second, standard disaster response often provides unsuitable aid to older people, leaving them feeling uncomfortable, unequal, and undignified. Third, there is a discrepancy between policy expectations and actual disaster response, resulting in inadequate incorporation of older people’s needs into disaster response at local, national, and international levels. Fourth, there is a relative lack of advocacy that directly gives voice to older people rather than indirectly reflecting their needs through carers and disaster responders. To address research and knowledge gaps, we propose five directions for future research: (1) a need for conceptually informed, contextually salient, and transparent working definitions of older people, (2) a need for nuanced intersectional understandings of older people’s needs, (3) a holistic understanding of the disaster ecology of older people’s different needs, (4) a focus on secondary disasters arising from primary disasters, and (5) a need for more theoretically informed and empirically rigorous research.

This study examines the heterogeneity in disaster preparedness behaviors among older adults and the factors that influence them, with the aim of offering policy recommendations to mitigate casualties among older adults during natural disasters. This is a secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data involving 394 participants aged 65 and above, with data sourced from the seventh wave of the Basic Social Change Survey conducted by Academia Sinica. These cross-sectional data were collected through face-to-face interviews, where interviewers conducted one-on-one questioning to gather general information and assess disaster preparedness. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between various factors and disaster preparedness behaviors. Descriptive statistics show that among the six disaster preparedness behaviors, 32.5% of the elderly moved vehicles or household items to a safe location, and 27.2% secured cabinets or large appliances. The remaining four disaster preparedness behaviors-including purchasing disaster insurance, preparing a disaster emergency kit, identifying and planning evacuation locations and routes, and participating in disaster response drills-were exhibited by less than 11.9% of the participants. Hierarchical regression showed that younger age, higher education, lower income, better health, community involvement, disaster experience, and higher perceived risk were associated with increased preparedness among older adults. The study found that most older adults do not invest time or money in disaster preparedness. Government agencies should encourage older adults to participate and account for their heterogeneity, such as through targeted interventions in health promotion, disaster response education, and social support. Initiatives like health check-ups, exercise classes to improve physical fitness, and simple, understandable disaster response courses can enhance risk perception. For high-income groups, emphasizing the importance of disaster preparedness through data and real-life examples is crucial. Older adults should also be encouraged to join community organizations and disaster drills, and a platform for sharing disaster experiences should be established to improve overall disaster resilience.

COVID-19, Mental Health and Aging: A Need for New Knowledge to Bridge Science and Service

Purpose This paper aims to examine the 2025 Tai Po residential fire in Hong Kong to analyze the challenges of disaster risk reduction when hazardous practices are culturally embedded. Rather than reconstructing technical causation, the paper situates bamboo scaffolding within Hong Kong's distinctive urban, historical and political context, where the practice is tied to skilled labor, livelihoods and local identity. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyzes public debates surrounding the Tai Po fire through critical heritage scholarship and disaster studies frameworks, drawing on comparative insights from prior research on post-fire reconstruction in indigenous communities in Southwest China. Findings Controversy over bamboo scaffolding cannot be understood through risk denial or heritage attachment but reflects heightened anxieties about identity and autonomy among Hong Kong residents. Comparison with the indigenous case further reveals that resistance emerges when external authorities claim the right to decide how communities should live with risk and impose solutions. Originality/value This paper identifies contested decisional authority as the primary mechanism driving resistance to culturally embedded risk reduction interventions. By situating disaster governance within questions of cultural autonomy and political legitimacy, it moves beyond heritage-versus-safety binaries and clarifies the limits of purely technical approaches.