Since the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on 11 March 2011, recovery and reconstruction activities have been taking place. Due to unimaginable changes of circumstances, effects on the daily lives of older people have been dramatic.

This survey looks at the needs and issues of older people who were affected by this catastrophic event. It aims to gain a detailed understanding of the impact of the disaster on older people a year on, and the vulnerabilities and challenges they faced and continue to face as a result of their displacement or their continued residency in affected areas where support and services are reduced. It also looks at how older people used their past experiences and wisdom at the time of the evacuation through this survey.

Lessons implied by the research can promote preparedness and specific measures to protect older people from future disasters in Japan and globally.

Recommendations:

evacuation plans should account for the specific needs of older people and the level of support they are likely to receive from family and community members
disaster preparedness and training should build confidence and encourage older residents to take immediate and appropriate action in an emergency
evacuation sites and routes need to be accessible
access to information should respect principles of dignity, equality and nondiscrimination and must be accessible to older people with visual, aural and mobility difficulties
older people need adequate nutrition to maintain good health and improve their ability to survive and recover from disasters
access to appropriate healthcare is crucial for older people, particularly those with chronic medical conditions
the lack of age disaggregated disease surveillance data undermines attempts to understand the long-term impact of the emergency on older people. Efforts must be made to fill this gap
older people require accessible and private toilet and washing facilities
future housing plans should encourage independence and facilitate access to services, and therefore should apply universal design concepts to both the micro and macro
levels of infrastructure planning