Older Americans Act: Disaster Assistance for Older Persons After Hurricane Katrina

Older Americans Act: Disaster Assistance for Older Persons After Hurricane Katrina

Order Code RS22252
Updated September 22, 2005
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Older Americans Act: Disaster Assistance for
Older Persons After Hurricane Katrina
Carol O’Shaughnessy
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is having significant negative effects
on older persons with physical and mental disabilities. Persons who are socially isolated
and dependent upon informal caregivers and social service programs to assist them live
independently have immediate and long-term needs. The Administration on Aging
(AoA) has allocated $750,000 in disaster relief funds available through the Older
Americans Act to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi (divided equally among the three
states). Congress may consider whether additional actions are necessary to assist state
and area agencies on aging in their efforts to assist the frail elderly in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina.
Effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Elderly
The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is having significant negative effects
on older persons with physical and mental disabilities, especially those who are socially
isolated and dependent upon social service programs. Moreover, many older persons rely
on informal support from families and friends to help them live independently in their
own homes. Many of these informal caregivers may themselves be struggling to locate
shelter and basic necessities, compromising their ability to sustain caregiving activities.1
In addition, disaster-related environmental factors, such as dehydration and exposure to
infectious diseases, seriously affect frail older persons with chronic conditions.
Elderly Population in Affected States
Older persons in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi have higher rates of
poverty and are more likely to have a disability than older persons in the United States as
1 A recent survey of 680 Houston-based Katrina evacuees found that of those who did not
evacuate before the storm, 38% were either physically unable to leave or had to care for someone
who was physically unable to leave. Washington Post, Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard
School of Public Health,. Survey of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees [http://www.kff]
Congressional Research Service { The Library of Congress

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whole (Table 1). The compound effects of disability and poverty present tremendous
challenges in caring for persons with disabilities in emergency situations.
Table 1. Selected Characteristics of Persons Age 65 and Older in
Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi
Persons age 65 and older
Alabama
Louisiana
Mississippi
United States
Number/percent of
562,189
494,278
329,504
34.2 million
population
(12.7%)
(11.3%)
(11.7%)
(12%)
Percent with income below
11.9%
14.7%
15.2%
9.4%
poverty
Percent with a disability*
46.0%
46.3%
52.1%
39.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 American Community Survey.
*Disability is defined as a long-lasting sensory, physical, mental or emotional condition making it difficult
to do activities such as walking, dressing, bathing, or remembering; or impeding a person from going
outside the home alone.
Administration on Aging Disaster Assistance Program
In the event of a federally declared disaster, the Older Americans Act requires the
Administration on Aging (AoA) to allocate funds to state agencies on aging to provide
social services and related supplies for older persons in affected states. Funding is
allocated from Title III of the Act (Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging);
the amount available may not exceed 2% of funds appropriated under Title IV of the Act
(Training, Research, and Discretionary Projects and Programs). State agencies on aging
pass funds through to area agencies on aging designated pursuant to the Older Americans
Act. These funds are in addition to any funds that may be available to support older
persons through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In response to Hurricane Katrina, AoA has made $750,000 in Older Americans
Act funds available to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi (divided equally among the
three states). Older Americans Act disaster assistance funds are to be used for services
that other public and private agencies are unable to fill and that are authorized by various
programs under the Act. These services include meals for older persons as well as a wide
variety of social services, such as transportation, information and assistance, case
management, counseling, legal services, among others.
Issues for Congress
Among the many issues associated with the aftermath of Katrina, Congress may
opt to assess how the federal emergency response is affecting services and programs for
older persons, especially those whose economic resources are limited and whose support
system is fragile. Issues that will be of concern include provision of: meals to older
persons with special dietary needs; special needs shelters to accommodate persons with
chronic medical conditions; personal care aides for those with chronic disabilities and
who lack informal family caregivers; transportation services; case management staff to

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assess needs of older persons and make arrangements for appropriate care; and emergency
medications.
Additional Information
For additional information, see:
Administration on Aging [http://www.aoa.gov]
National Council on Disability [http://www.ncd.gov]
AARP [http://www.aarp.org/katrina].