Exploración de los modos de afrontamiento en adultos mayores sometidos a situaciones de desastre, Baracoa 2017

Introduction: natural disasters are events that represent an obstacle in human development. Older adults exposed to disaster situations, including their life experiences in different areas, can be a key factor associated with resilience. However they are vulnerable to disasters and the degree and severity to which they are affected by the emergencies and disaster situations depends on several factors. Objective: to describe coping modes in older adults subjected to disaster situations. Method: an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted, at the Consultorio Medico de la Familia No. 3 in Baracoa-Guantanamo, in 2017. The study included older adults exposed to disaster situations and was designed to know the modes of coping. A total of 15 patients were involved and selected in the study. Descriptive statistics information were used. Results: social support was characterized by high and medium levels (40% at both levels). Patients studied have had a normal cognitive function (93.3%). Irritability was the most predominant aspect faced (60%). In the order of priority of coping modes, self-control was the predominant factor (40%). Conclusions: the ways in which older adults cope with catastrophic events are conditioned by their previous and individual experiences, being self-control and planning the most common ways of coping.