Sense of threat and coping strategies of Israeli older adults during a military operation

To examine what levels of sense of threat functionally disabled older people experience during war and the coping strategies they use to protect themselves; to examine factors that explain their sense of threat and coping strategies. A convenience sample that included 138 respondents who were functionally disabled older adults and received homecare services. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire. The majority of respondents stayed in their homes during the military operation and used a shelter during part or all the times when there was rocket shelling. The findings showed that a variety of factors were significantly correlated with sense of threat and coping strategies; gender and education were significant in explaining sense of threat, and living arrangement was significant in explaining use of shelter; while number of children was significant in explaining frequency of staying at home during the military operation. However, Holocaust survivor status, formal and informal support, and functional status were insignificant in explaining any of the dependent variables. Holocaust survivors feel no more threat compared to those who did not experience the Holocaust. Communities should be prepared to provide emergency services to ease the sense of threat of functionally disabled older adults during wartime and to assure their use of shelter, in particular those who live alone.