Barriers to Disaster Preparation When Older Adults Are Taking Care of Older Adults

Abstract This study examined the association between age and barriers for disaster preparation in the U.S., including the moderating effect of caring for an elderly person. Using a sample of 1147 individuals from the 2017 FEMA National Household Survey, we tested age as the key predictor, which had four groups: 18-44 (young age), 45-64 (middle age), 65-74 (young-old), and 75+ (old-old). Binomial logistic regression was conducted to investigate how age and the responsibility to take care of an older adult affected the likelihood of having preparation barriers, controlling for respondents’ gender, education, race, home ownership, disability, and responsibility to take care of an older adult. The results showed that compared with other age groups, young-old were significantly less likely to have barriers for disaster preparation. In addition, taking care of an older adult increased the likelihood of having preparation barriers. Interestingly, relative to the young-old, caring for an older adult presented additional challenges for other age groups to have barriers for preparation. Our findings directed attention to age patterns in barriers for disaster preparation and heterogeneity among older adults, and also highlighted that caring for older adults could exacerbate barriers for disaster preparation. The life course perspective informed the discussion of results, which emphasized on life-span development and linked lives.


ENVIRONMENT AND AGING (BSS) A STUDY ON COMMUNITY FORMATION PATTERNS BASED ON THE USAGE OF BENCHES BY SENIORS
Yunjeong Lee, 1 Akiko Nishino, 2 Yuji Matsuda, 2 Toshio Otsuki, 2 and Kazuhiko Nishide 2 1. ChungNam Institute, Republic of Korea,2. The University of Tokyo,Tokyo,Japan In Japan, the rate of aging exceeds 27%, and the decline of communities has been an issue. Therefore, in this study we take the T housing complex as an example where the rate of aging is more than 40% and aim to understand the usage pattern of benches. An observational research was conducted for 19 days to examine the usage of a total of 23 benches, 17 existing ones and 6 newly installed ones, in the T housing complex. This investigation led to the findings. An average of 417 people used the benches in a day. Research determined that there are four different types of bench utilization, and they each present different ways of building relationships with other people. Bench use behavior was broken into four different categories. Sitting on a bench alone (without building relationships with others) was classified as "single use". Sitting on a bench with another person but not engaging in any relationship-building behavior was classified as "sharing". Sitting on a bench and exhibiting relationshipbuilding behavior with others (such as through talking) was classified as "chatting". Sitting with companions in groups of 3 or more people and exhibiting relationship-building behavior was classified as "group use". Our findings provide evidence that a bench can be a device to foster the formation of diverse communities. The 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had a devastating impact on south Louisiana, as did the more recent flooding in 2016. Multiple disaster exposures are associated with distress which may be lessened through adaptive coping behaviors, although prior disaster losses may affect current coping responses. In this study, we assessed self-reported coping strategies, resilience, and mental health outcomes after the 2016 flood. The sample was comprised of mostly middle-aged and older adults (N = 223, age range: 18-89 years). Three groups were compared: (1) non-flooded adults as controls, (2) onceflooded adults with structural damage to homes and property in 2016, and (3) twice-flooded adults who had relocated to Baton Rouge because of catastrophic losses in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and they experienced damage in the 2016 flood. Analyses of variance confirmed that the three groups differed in coping responses, with non-flooded controls using significantly fewer strategies than their once and twice flooded counterparts. Correlation analyses demonstrated that age was positively associated with adaptive forms of coping (acceptance, religiosity) and negatively correlated with maladaptive coping (self-blame). These data suggest that awareness of prior severe weather experiences and catastrophic losses, which are likely for older adults living in hurricane prone areas, are an important consideration for disaster planning and the development of age-sensitive interventions to mitigate adversity. One of the most frequently cited theoretical models of relocation decision-making is Wiseman's Behavioral Model of Elderly Migration. Based on this model, the present study used a push-pull framework to describe older adults' reasons for downsizing to a smaller home. A sample of 68 older adults who had downsized in the past year provided reasons for moving from their previous residence (push factors) and reasons for moving specifically to their new residence (pull factors). Participants rated the importance of each push/pull factor using a (1) not at all important to (4) extremely important scale. On average, participants rated pull factors (M = 3.63, SD = .31) as slightly more important than push factors (M = 3.54, SD = .40) in their decision to move. The most frequently reported push factors were declining health (n = 47, 22%), having too much space or maintenance (n = 40, 19%), and disliking the location of their previous residence (n = 30, 14%). The most commonly reported pull factors were the attractive location of the new residence (n = 60, 28%), social factors (e.g., being closer to family and friends; n = 36, 17%), and services or amenities available in the new residence (n = 32, 15%). Qualitative responses will be presented to illustrate the interaction between push and pull factors in participants' relocation decision-making. Findings are consistent with those identified in other studies on latelife relocation, establishing Wiseman's behavioral model as a useful framework for investigating downsizing in late life.

BARRIERS TO DISASTER PREPARATION WHEN OLDER ADULTS ARE TAKING CARE OF OLDER ADULTS
Zhirui Chen, and Zhen Cong, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States This study examined the association between age and barriers for disaster preparation in the U.S., including the GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting Innovation in Aging, 2020, Vol. 4, No. S1 moderating effect of caring for an elderly person. Using a sample of 1147 individuals from the 2017 FEMA National Household Survey, we tested age as the key predictor, which had four groups: 18-44 (young age), 45-64 (middle age), 65-74 (young-old), and 75+ (old-old). Binomial logistic regression was conducted to investigate how age and the responsibility to take care of an older adult affected the likelihood of having preparation barriers, controlling for respondents' gender, education, race, home ownership, disability, and responsibility to take care of an older adult. The results showed that compared with other age groups, young-old were significantly less likely to have barriers for disaster preparation. In addition, taking care of an older adult increased the likelihood of having preparation barriers. Interestingly, relative to the young-old, caring for an older adult presented additional challenges for other age groups to have barriers for preparation. Our findings directed attention to age patterns in barriers for disaster preparation and heterogeneity among older adults, and also highlighted that caring for older adults could exacerbate barriers for disaster preparation. The life course perspective informed the discussion of results, which emphasized on life-span development and linked lives.

COMPARISON OF THREE WAYFINDING ASSESSMENT TOOLS
Margaret Calkins, 1 and Rebecca Davis, 2 1. IDEAS,Cleveland Hts.,Ohio,United States,2. Grand Valley State University,Grand Rapids,Michigan,United States An early, problematic symptom of aging, exacerbated by cognitive problems such as Alzheimer's disease, is difficulty finding one's way. Long term care (LTC) communities are especially challenging for wayfinding. This study compares three different tools to evaluate spatial complexity within eight LTC communities. The tools included computation of space syntax integration values using axial lines to determine how connected wayfinding routes are within the community. The Wayfinding Checklist tool (revised) rates the quality of signage, complexity of a building floor plan, and use of decorative elements. The Calkins Route Assessment tool evaluates route complexity using both plan and vertical visual field information (e.g. presence, location, clarity of signage and cues). The results of the analysis showed that the buildings varied with respect to integration, with some very well integrated floorplans and routes, and some that were very complex, with multiple jogs, turns, and limited integration. The Wayfinding Checklist echoed the variety of complexity of floorplans, but lowered scores for poor existence and design of signage and mostly substandard lighting for visibility. The Calkins Route Assessment tool added greater specificity to the space syntax analysis and Wayfinding Checklist, showing how visual elements (versus just visual access) can compensate for plans with low-integration. These study findings indicate that each tool was valuable for measuring wayfinding complexity, but measured different aspects of building and route complexity. Tools like these can be used to identify challenging wayfinding routes and buildings so that designers and clinicians can improve the overall design for wayfinding.

CREATIVE CITIES CREATING CONNECTIONS: FOSTERING CROSS-AGE INTERACTION THROUGH LEISURE Rachel Douglas, and Anne Barrett, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Older and younger people interact infrequently in most social realms -a pattern stemming from institutional, cultural, and spatial age segregation. Increasing cross-age interaction offers promise as a strategy for not only enhancing social connections but also reducing ageist attitudes. We argue that a social realm with untapped potential for creating these connections is leisure, particularly within creative cities. To explore this possibility, our study examines crossage interactions in Key West, Florida -a leisure-oriented city that promotes creativity through its social and built environment. Using participant-observation and interview data (n=126) from 2017 to 2019, we examined leisure experiences of tourists and residents, aged 23 to 83. Findings indicate that creative cultural contexts can counter ageist attitudes by promoting cross-age interaction. Data analysis revealed three processes encouraging these shifts -promoting diversity and acceptance, enhancing older adults' participation, and nurturing intergenerational bonds. Ongoing cross-age interactions were fostered through the island's welcoming philosophy and encouragement of out-group acceptance and diversity. They were further fostered by the island's wide array of leisure activities and proximity of shared spaces that enabled older adults to readily pursue leisure with younger people. Cross-age ties also were promoted by the island's focus on family-friendly leisure experiences. Our research highlights the potential of creative cities to promote age integration, and reduce ageism, through its cultural practices within leisure spaces.

LIVING THROUGH DECLINE: RESIDENT PERCEPTIONS OF CHANGE WITHIN CLEVELAND'S URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS Kaitlyn Langendoerfer, Case Western Reserve University, Honesdale, Pennsylvania, United States
Despite the vast amount of research focused on neighborhoods within the environmental gerontology, very little attention has been paid to learning how older residents make sense of and describe the changes that have occurred within their communities over the course of their lives. The purpose of this study was to provide a space for residents to tell their stories of what it was like to live through neighborhood decline within Cleveland. Older adults are an ideal group for examining perceptions of neighborhood decline as they have the perspective to address both the historical changes of their neighborhood and the biographical changes of their lives. This study utilized data from 4 years of ethnographic observations with over 30 older (age 60+), African-American adults who have aged in place within Cleveland since their childhood. Additionally, multiple in-depth life history interviews were conducted with 13 long-term residents. Data was analyzed using grounded theory techniques for emergent themes. While each resident had their own unique perspective of neighborhood change, common themes emerged related to 1) institutional decline, 2) changes in safety and