Enhancing the Resilience of Seniors in Your Community
October 18th, 2017
Slides – Jason Rhoades, Ph.D., Antioch University New England
This webinar focused on the safety and well-being of seniors within the context of climate change. Using a participatory adaptation planning process conducted with members of the senior community in Bridgeport Connecticut as a case study, the presentation described seniors’ unique characteristics that put them at risk to climate change and shared specific recommendations to enhance their resilience. Additionally, the presentation discussed the participatory process itself to illustrate an approach for engaging seniors and other vulnerable groups directly in adaptation planning. As part of the presentation, these issues were considered through a municipal lens with an eye toward safeguarding seniors and other vulnerable groups within the context of city wide emergency preparedness efforts. Throughout, the presentation balanced site-specific insights with broadly applicable frameworks and illustrated how considerations and techniques may be adapted to differing contexts.
Participants leave the webinar with:
- An understanding of the key factors contributing to seniors’ vulnerability;
- Specific recommendations for enhancing seniors’ resilience;
- A structured process for engaging seniors and other vulnerable groups in participatory adaptation planning;
- An awareness of considerations when integrating efforts aimed at safeguarding seniors within the context of
broader municipal emergency preparedness efforts; - Insight into how and why to develop municipality-university collaborations to protect seniors and other
vulnerable groups.
Presenter: Jason Rhoades, PhD
Researcher, Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience; International Service Program Director and Faculty, AUNE
As a researcher with the Center for Climate Preparedness and Community Resilience, Jason Rhoades’ work focuses on providing meaningful opportunities for marginalized groups to engage in participatory planning and decision-making. In particular, he facilitates and studies collaborative climate change adaptation planning projects with vulnerable populations. Most recently he completed a participatory adaptation planning project with the senior citizen community of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In addition to his work with the Center, Jason serves on the faculty in the Environmental Studies and Management Departments and directs the International Service Program at Antioch University New England. Jason earned his PhD in Environmental Studies at AUNE in 2016. Prior to joining AUNE, he held a variety of positions in the environmental field including serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Armenia.
Presenter: Terron Jones
Office of Emergency Management, Bridgeport, CT
Terron L. Jones has worked for the Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security for 5 years as the Assistant Director. He received a B.S degree in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University and M.P.H from National University. His bi-coastal emergency experience includes programs and consultancies in Los Angeles and San Diego. He was birthed into his career during tropical storm Irene & Hurricane Sandy. Mr. Jones enjoys working in the area of interface between science, theory, and practice with long term recovery efforts.
