Older Adults and Their Recollections of September 11th, 2001

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were
the first attacks on the United States since World
War II and were seen live on television throughout
the world. Approximately 3000 people died in the
attacks on the World Trade Center.
While the psychological reactions of children and
adults have been studied, there has been little
attention to the effects of September 11, 2001 on
older adults. The author provides an in-depth look
at the perceptions and recollections of
September 11, 2001 of 24 seniors attending senior
centers in Lower Manhattan and of how they coped in
the aftermath.

Ninety-two percent of those interviewed
witnessed directly the attacks on the World Trade
Center. Their reactions include horror, disbelief,
denial, numbness, grief, sadness, depression
and anxiety. Their primary ways of coping included
helping others and keeping busy. The majority of
the seniors expressed no longer feeling safe and
having a more permanent sense of vulnerability
since September 11, 2001. The findings offer a
direction for reaching out to seniors, identifying
needs, strengthening existing social support
networks and providing effective treatment
when necessary.

Autorentext
Janet Baumann is a practicing psychoanalyst in New York City.
She is a training analyst and supervisor at the Postgraduate
Center for Mental Health, the Group Therapy Department and a
Faculty member at Blanton Peale Graduate Institute. She earned
her doctorate at New York University, the SIlver School of
Social Work.

Klappentext
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were the first attacks on the United States since World War II and were seen live on television throughout the world. Approximately 3000 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. While the psychological reactions of children and adults have been studied, there has been little attention to the effects of September 11, 2001 on older adults. The author provides an in-depth look at the perceptions and recollections of September 11, 2001 of 24 seniors attending senior centers in Lower Manhattan and of how they coped in the aftermath. Ninety-two percent of those interviewed witnessed directly the attacks on the World Trade Center. Their reactions include horror, disbelief, denial, numbness, grief, sadness, depression and anxiety. Their primary ways of coping included helping others and keeping busy. The majority of the seniors expressed no longer feeling safe and having a more permanent sense of vulnerability since September 11, 2001. The findings offer a direction for reaching out to seniors, identifying needs, strengthening existing social support networks and providing effective treatment when necessary.