Meanings of Care in a Water Crisis: Perspectives of Residents and Staff from a Senior Living Facility in Flint, MI

Background and Purpose:

Since April 2014, residents of Flint have been exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water. Across the life course, exposure to drinking water contaminants can differently impact physical, mental, and social well-being. Challenges that older adults may confront, such as social isolation, frailty, and comorbidities (e.g., mobility impairments, COPD, dementia/Alzheimer's disease), may exacerbate the harmful effects of lead exposure in late life. Moreover, lead exposure in late life may be one among many environmental and social harms that cumulatively affect older adults. Through extended in-depth engagement with older adults and staff members of a senior living residence in Flint, MI, this study complements similar studies on youth exposure to drinking water contaminants and offers a life-course perspective on the Flint water crisis.  The primary goal of the project is to uncover the perceived individual, social, and political effects (including harms) of the water crisis on older adults, in both the short- and long-term. This includes investigations into access to resources, caregiving and kin relationships, and comorbidities commonly experienced in older adulthood. Second, we aim to understand how older adults navigate everyday activities and larger life changes/decisions and imagine a future for themselves and their families. In this paper, we seek to interrogate what “care” means for staff and residents, amidst multiple competing understandings of the concept.

Methods:

This paper will draw on data from an ongoing ethnographic study of older Flint residents that investigates older adults’ understandings and perceptions of the relationship between the water crisis and their health and wellbeing in this nationally recognized water crisis. Our sample consists of African American and white Flint residents of lower socioeconomic status.  This paper draws upon interviews and participant observation with older adults residing in senior living environments (n=15) and staff working in senior living environments (n=15) in Flint to address the effect of the crisis on older adults living in congregate housing settings. The presentation will also provide examples of the photo elicitation component of project with photos taken by older adults and staff members.

 

Results:

Preliminary findings show that even though senior living environments have created scheduled water deliveries, there are asymmetries of information about operating and replacing filters and possible correlations between water usage and other health challenges (e.g., rashes, hair loss) occurring in this congregate living context. Second, a complex understanding of responsibility for responses to the water crisis between residents and staff exists. Third, there is individual and community level trauma (e.g., isolation, distrust) experienced by both older adults and staff as they navigate these relationships of care and concern.

 

Conclusion and Implications:

The study highlights the vulnerabilities of older adults and staff of senior living facilities in environmental crises. These findings are applicable to social work practitioners working with older adults in environmental crises and/or crises involving individual and community level trauma.  These findings also suggest a need for social policies that are age-inclusive and tailored to age-specific needs in response to crises.