Aging Families in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Article submitted by Mrs. Carlene Author at 540-231-7657, carthur@vt.edu and Dr. Yoshinori Kamo at 225-578-5352, kamo@lsu.edu.

A few news stories covered nursing home residents abandoned in the storm, older adults who refused to evacuate, or grandparent-led families; yet, the impact of Hurricane Katrina on aging families remains largely invisible. Disrupted, lost, or forever changed are the lives, culture, and social aspects of aging families in Louisiana. Some families faced another storm of disorganization, panic, and inhumanity as they evacuated out of the affected areas, but families, faith-based groups, individuals, and private industry prevailed in helping families to safety. To unveil strengths and challenges, Drs. Tammy Henderson and Karen Roberto, and Yoshinori Kamo developed a project about the affect of Katrina on aging families. Virginia Tech's Institutional Review Board approved and funded by the National Science Foundation this project.

We want to learn about the experiences of two aging groups: long-term residents of Baton Rouge and the immediate surrounding areas and families who evacuated to there. Participants will share about their health status, social service use, and family decision-making and well-being more than six months after the storm. We are offering participants $25.00 Wal-Mart gift card for giving up 60 minutes of their time.

To qualify for this project, residents must be directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, (i.e., providing shelter, volunteering, changing work schedules, and more). Residents and displaced aging families must be: (a) 60 years of age living in a variety of family settings, (b) grandparents who are 50 years of age and the primary caregiver of their grandchildren (legal custody), or (c) the caregiver of an aging adult who is 60 years or older.

See abstract at the URL: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0555038

To participate in this project, please contact Mrs. Carlene Author at 540-231-7657, carthur@vt.edu or Dr. Yoshinori Kamo at 225-578-5352, kamo@lsu.edu.