Microsoft Word - WagnerBRfDEC.docx Book  Review     Greenberg,  Michael,  R.    Protecting  Seniors  against  Environmental  Disasters:    From  Hazards  and   Vulnerability  to  Prevention  and  Resilience.  New  York,  NY:  Routledge.  2014.  ISBN  978-­‐‑0-­‐‑415-­‐‑84201-­‐‑3,  210   pp.    Price  $145  (Hardcover)     Jennifer  A.  Wagner,  MPH,  LNHA   Gerontology  Program,  Bowling  Green  State  University                                                       Anthropology & Aging, Vol 37, No 1 (2016), pp.61-62 ISSN 2374-2267 (online) DOI 10.5195/aa.2016.155           This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 United States License. This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program, and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Anthropology  &  Aging   Vol  37,  No  1  (2016)        ISSN  2374-­‐‑2267  (online)        DOI  10.5195/aa.2016.155      http://anthro-­‐‑age.pitt.edu       Wagner  |  Book  Review  61   Book  Review   G Greenberg,  Michael,  R.    Protecting  Seniors  against  Environmental  Disasters:    From  Hazards  and  Vulnerability  to   Prevention  and  Resilience.  New  York,  NY:  Routledge.  2014.  ISBN  978-­‐‑0-­‐‑415-­‐‑84201-­‐‑3,  210  pp.    Price  $145   (Hardcover)     Jennifer  A.  Wagner,  MPH,  LNHA   Gerontology  Program,  Bowling  Green  State  University     My  first  thought  while  reading  Greenberg’s  book  was  that  we  finally  have  a  text  that  demonstrates   the  struggles  older  adults  face  during  a  disaster.    This  book  is  a  must  read  for  those  who  work  in  public   health  and  formulate  disaster  mitigation  and  emergency  response  plans.    It  is  also  a  must  read  for  all  who   work  with  older  adults.    It  would  be  an  excellent  text  for  students  pursuing  careers  as  health  care  executives.   This  book  is  backed  by  a  foundation  of  research  and  historical  accounts  of  past  disasters.    What   makes  this  an  enjoyable  text  for  me  is  the  application  of  the  material  presented  by  the  author’s  use  of  case   studies  and  lessons  learned.    In  the  preface  of  the  book,  Greenberg  shares  a  personal  story  of  his  parents  as   they  grew  older  and  their  fears  of  potentially  facing  yet  another  natural  disaster  in  their  lifetime  both  while   living  in  their  home  and  later  in  assisted  living.    Despite  the  resilience  of  Baby  Boomers  (see  Chapter  2  for   more  about  Boomers)  surviving  events  such  as  the  Great  Depression,  hurricanes,  and  blizzards,  being  cut   off  from  the  external  world  was  of  great  concern  as  his  parents  aged.       Chapter   3   provides   a   risk   assessment   of   events   such   as   tornadoes,   power   outages,   terrorism,   flooding,  wildfires,  and  more.    Greenberg  discusses  the  impact  of  such  events  on  older  adults  which  can   vary  greatly  based  on  their  mobility,  access  to  resources,  and  the  condition  of  their  home.       Chapter   4   provides   an   overview   of   the   local,   state,   and   federal   government’s   role   in   a   disaster.     Greenberg  provides  a  summary  of  data  on  disasters  and  relief  efforts  from  1950-­‐‑1979.    What  caught  my   attention   in   this   chapter   was   the   section   on   nursing   homes.     As   the   author   notes,   most   healthcare   organizations,  due  to  a  variety  of  regulatory  and  accreditation  requirements  have  disaster  and  evacuation   plans.    He  also  notes  that  such  organizations  are  exempt  from  evacuation  and  have  the  option  to  shelter  in   place.    The  author  notes  the  tough  decision  by  executives  to  shelter  or  evacuate,  understanding  that  the   mortality  of  compromised  individuals  increases  during  an  evacuation.    The  author  shares  lessons  learned   from  Hurricane  Katrina  and  how  lives  may  have  been  saved  by  having  stronger  shelter  in  place  plans.     Chapter   5   discusses   risk   management   for   not-­‐‑for-­‐‑profit   and   for-­‐‑profit   organizations.   Greenberg   highlights  planning  for  senior  housing  and  other  agencies  from  a  variety  of  perspectives  such  as  first-­‐‑ responders,   financial   and   city   planners,   and   other   stakeholders.     The   author   provides   a   valuable   table   demonstrating  the  critical  elements  of  a  disaster  plan  and  provides  discussion  on  lessons  learned.       Chapter  6  shares  the  risk  management  needs  of  seniors,  family,  and  friends.    Greenberg  cites  Renya   and  Brainerd’s  decision  making  model  in  determining  older  adults’  reactions  to  disaster  and  predictions   for  their  action  in  a  crisis.    According  to  Greenberg,  despite  potential  physical  and  cognitive  declines,  seniors   are   the   most   resilient,   most   optimistic,   and   feel   less   threatened   regarding   their   survival.     The   author   discusses  post  event  stress  which  is  not  so  much  a  factor  of  grief  and  loss  as  one  would  expect,  but  that  of   struggle  and  confusion  with  paperwork  and  eligibility  requirements  to  submit  insurance  claims,  receive   assistance,  the  laws  behind  what  disasters  qualify  for  governmental  assistance,  and  trying  to  make  sense  of   it  all.    When  they  cannot,  distrust  grows  and  seniors  are  less  likely  to  seek  assistance.    While  not  all  older   adults  are  frail,  the  author  notes  in  this  chapter  that  older  adults  who  are  able  are  more  likely  to  assist  in   prevention  and  recovery  efforts.           Anthropology  &  Aging   Vol  37,  No  1  (2016)        ISSN  2374-­‐‑2267  (online)        DOI  10.5195/aa.2016.155      http://anthro-­‐‑age.pitt.edu                             Wagner  |  Book  Review  62     Chapter  7  provides  experiences  and  lessons  learned  from  tropical  storms  in  New  Jersey.    Chapter  eight   provides  recommendations  for  future  disaster  prevention  and  resilience.  The  recommendations  include   sheltering   and   post   event   recovery,   mitigating   and   improving   the   resilience   of   the   medical   system,   communication  with  seniors,  improving  infrastructure,  and  increasing  community  development  projects   resilience  by  evaluating  hazard  event  mitigation  before  building.   This   text   provides   an   excellent   overview   of   the   needs   of   older   adults   in   all   home   and   care   environments  during  a  disaster  and  offers  much  to  consider  for  all  professionals  who  work  with  older   adults.