The Struggle with Anxiety and Depression among the Elderly: Predicting Elderly Behaviour in Crisis and Conflict Situations

Abstract
    Existing theories see the elderly as individuals likely to crumble under pressure, as crisis situations may exacerbate underlying conditions, such as depression, among them.
    The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has bred numerous stress situations, which in turn were bound to affect the lives of the elderly population on both sides. This inspired the author to examine whether the elderly population in Israel does, in fact, behave according to the theories?   
A prominent example for a crisis situation was this conflict, which triggered a crisis in Israeli communities plagued by the threat of direct rocket fire. The situation lent itself to the assumption that there would be a spike in depression and anxiety among the area's residents, especially the elderly, which would translate into "mass migration" to safer areas.While the rationale varied among participants, a clear sentiment came through, spelling devotion among the border communities' residents, defiance among former USSR immigrants, and a combination of both among Holocaust survivors.
The study indicated the elderly tend to be mentally tougher than the younger generations, proving their resilience by weathering multiple threats. To conclude: Senior citizens can be used to bolster the home front's resilience; depression and anxiety experienced by the elderly in crisis situations can be alleviated by providing them with information about the nature of the threat; and it is best to form permanent resilience centres in threatened areas.