May 9

May 9 How to React to Senior Citizens, Young Adults, and Children During War

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Supporting people of different age groups during war requires sensitivity, tailored communication, and understanding their unique vulnerabilities and needs.

FAF, Defense.Forum has created a comprehensive guide on interacting with senior citizens, young adults, and children during armed conflict, including what information to share or withhold.

Senior Citizens

How to React

Prioritize Physical and Emotional Safety: Seniors are often among the most vulnerable during the war, facing isolation, mobility challenges, and lack of access to medical care or necessities.

Be Patient and Respectful

Communicate at their pace, listen actively, and avoid rushing conversations. As much as possible, allow them autonomy in decision-making.

Offer Practical Help

Assist with daily needs, medication, and mobility. Check on them regularly and help them access humanitarian aid if available.

Provide Emotional Support

Many seniors experience trauma, fear, and loneliness. To lighten the mood, engage in gentle conversation, reminisce about positive memories, and use humor appropriately.

What to Share

Accurate, Reassuring Information

Explain safety procedures, evacuation plans, and where to get help, but avoid overwhelming them with graphic details or constant updates about violence.

Opportunities for Connection

Encourage contact with family, friends, or community support networks.

What Not to Share

Distressing News or Graphic Details

Avoid sharing explicit accounts of violence or destruction, which can increase anxiety and trauma.

Overly Technical or Fast-Paced Explanations

Keep communication clear and straightforward, tailored to their cognitive and emotional state.

Young Adults

How to React

Acknowledge Their Awareness

Young adults are often highly informed and may seek deeper understanding or ways to help.

Encourage Open Dialogue

Ask what they know, how they feel, and what questions they have. Listen more than you speak and validate their emotions.

Promote Agency

Support their desire to help through volunteering, advocacy, or supporting affected communities.

What to Share

Honest, Factual Information

Be transparent about the situation, including the causes and consequences of war, but avoid speculation or rumors.

Resources for Support

Provide information on mental health resources, community groups, and safe ways to get involved.

What Not to Share

Overwhelming or Sensationalized Content

Avoid excessive exposure to distressing media or unfiltered social media feeds, which can heighten anxiety.

Personal Fears or Unresolved Emotions

Manage your distress separately; young adults can be affected by the emotional tone of adults around them.

Children

How to React

Create a Sense of Safety

Reassure children about their immediate safety and maintain as much normalcy as possible through routines and familiar activities.

Use Age-Appropriate Language

Tailor explanations to their developmental level are simple and concrete for young children and more nuanced for older children and teens.

Listen and Validate

Allow children to express their feelings and questions. Validate their emotions and let them know feeling scared, angry, or confused is okay.

Limit Media Exposure

Protect children from graphic news or images. If necessary, watch the media together and explain what they see calmly and reassuringly.

What to Share

Basic Facts and Safety Information

Please explain what is happening simply, focusing on what they need to know to stay safe (e.g., where to go during an alarm, who will take care of them).

Hope and Positive Stories

Share examples of people helping each other and emphasize efforts being made to resolve the conflict.

Coping Strategies

Teach self-soothing techniques, encourage play, and maintain daily routines to foster resilience.

What Not to Share:

Graphic Details or Unfiltered News

Avoid exposing children to distressing images or stories. Young children, especially, should not watch war coverage.

Adult-Level Worries

Do not discuss your fears or anxieties in front of children, as they look to adults for cues about their safety.

Complex Political Explanations

Avoid overwhelming children with complex or abstract details they cannot process.

Key Principles Across All Groups

Be honest but sensitive.

Tailor communication to the individual’s age and emotional state.

Prioritize safety, stability, and emotional support.

Limit exposure to distressing content, especially for children and seniors.

Encourage agency and positive action, particularly for young adults and older children.

Maintain routines and familiar activities to foster resilience.

By adapting your approach to each group’s needs, you help mitigate the psychological toll of war and foster a sense of safety, agency, and hope

Ensure to stay away from rumors. It is prudent if in such a situation, to ask for facts and sources of information

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