Policymakers’ perspectives on responding to the elderly’s mental health needs in post-disaster situations

  • Ferry Efendi
    Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7988-9196
  • Retno Indarwati
    Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • Gading Ekapuja Aurizki
    Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • Ika Adelia Susanti
    Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  • Antoni Eka Fajar Maulana
    Nursing Department, Mataram College of Health Sciences, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

ABSTRACT

Background: Mental health issues following the occurrence of disaster remain neglected area especially for older people group. The purpose of this study was to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on post-disaster management related to the elderly’s mental health needs.

Design and Methods:
 This qualitative case study was conducted between June and October 2020. The investigators conducted in-depth interviews with policymakers who were in charge of disaster management at national, provincial, and regional levels. The policymakers were selected through purposive sampling. A policy analysis was conducted by the investigators to answer the research question.

Results:
 The results were presented based on actor, content, context, and process. The actors engage in intersectoral collaboration between disaster agencies, health agencies, and social agencies. The content is largely comprehensive; however, the disaster management policy should not neglect to address mental health conditions after a disaster event. The context is the vulnerability and risk of the elderly in terms of experiencing physical and mental issues after a disaster, which should be considered by policymakers in Indonesia. The process is the development of disaster management policies, which are influenced by cultural, economic, political, and international factors.

Conclusion: 
This study reveals that stakeholders need to pay attention to the mental health issue of elderly in national and regional policy, particularly during post-disaster situations. In addition, posttraumatic stress in post-disaster situations should be highlighted in order to formulate a better aged care policy.

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