Evacuation experiences of older adults during armed conflict: Community, place attachment, and well-being

Abstract

Evacuation is defined as an organized, temporary removal of people from a place of danger to a place of safety, typically in response to emergencies, whereas displacement generally lacks prospects for an immediate return, contributing to feelings of collective trauma.

This study investigates the experiences of older adults displaced from northern Israeli settlements due to the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, focusing on their connection to place, community, and the psychological impact of forced evacuation. Using a phenomenological approach, 16 participants aged 65 and above were interviewed to understand their attachment to community and sense of belonging in the context of forced relocation. Findings revealed two main themes: (1) social ties as a protective force, where evacuees report strengthened connections within new “hotel communities” or among previous community members relocated together; and (2) a deep emotional and identity-based bond to their original settlement, now perceived as more complicated connections. Community cohesion emerged as a critical factor in emotional resilience, while dislocation and aging complicate perceptions of return. This study highlights the importance of social bonds (those from home settlement and those created after evacuation) in maintaining mental health during crises and suggests the need for policies that prioritize community cohesion and support systems in displacement and evacuation scenarios. These findings underscore the significant role of social infrastructure in coping with and potentially mitigating the adverse effects of forced evacuation on older adults.