Tested by the storm: Preparedness, faith, moral transformation, and collective resilience among older adults in Tacloban
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61251/cej.v4i3.484Keywords:
disaster resilience, faith, older adults, Philippines, ST HaiyanAbstract
For the past decade, the frequency and destructive nature of disasters have increased. Those most affected by these calamities are the vulnerable sectors of the society, such as the elderly population. While previous studies frequently concentrated on the fragility of older adults, there is a scant attention to their knowledge, faith, and community ties as resources for collective resilience and recovery. This study addresses this gap by examining the ways in which older adults in Tacloban drew on these resources following the disaster. In this qualitative study, I examined how 16 older adults in Tacloban Philippines, experienced and responded to Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Through in-depth interviews, I identified four interrelated dimensions of resilience: preparedness, faith, moral transformation, and community-based collective resilience. The findings, moreover, revealed that informants used these dimensions of resilience not only to deal with harsh conditions after the disaster but also to support others and contribute to the collective recovery of their community. I also argue that since the consequences of disasters on older adults are more substantial, their perspectives, experiences, and contributions should be more fully recognized and valued. Furthermore, I yearn to contribute to studies in disaster gerontology as well as highlight older adults as active agents in disaster response and recovery situations.
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