Physical and Mental Health Symptom Profiles Among Older Adults Following Hurricane Helene in Southern Appalachia.

OBJECTIVE

This brief report examines physical and mental health symptom profiles among older adults approximately 5 months after Hurricane Helene-related flooding in Southern Appalachia.

METHODS

Survey data were collected from 233 older adults and assessed physical health symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, flood event exposure, environmental contaminant exposure, and post-flood stressors. Cluster analysis was conducted to identify post-disaster physical and mental health symptom profiles, and analysis of variance and chi-square tests were conducted to examine differences in disaster exposure, post-flood stressors, and sociodemographic characteristics across profiles.

RESULTS

Three distinct post-disaster health symptom profiles were identified: a lower symptom profile, an elevated mental health symptom profile, and a combined elevated physical and mental health symptom profile. Disaster exposure, contaminant exposure, and post-flood stressors increased in a graded manner across profiles, indicating a dose-response framework of disaster-related health impacts. Higher symptom burden profiles were disproportionately represented among older adults with disabilities/chronic illness and among older age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight heterogeneity in post-disaster health experiences among older adults and underscore the value of identifying high-risk subgroups and implementing recovery strategies that address co-occurring physical and mental health needs among older adults following flood events.