Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

76 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
Many older individuals have either working or nominal companion animals
that require simultaneous transportation and subsequent sheltering.
Shelters typically do not provide for the inclusion of household pets,
which are housed at separate nearby facilities. Federal guidelines require
that owners provide cages, food, and water for their pets. This may present
an obstacle for older persons since not all older individuals have separate
animal cages for their pets. The evacuation of animals is an issue that
can be distressing for older persons and has caused some to refuse evacuation
(ESAR-VHP, 2007).
Older persons often have sensory deficits, such as impaired eyesight
or hearing, and require that all information on emergency preparedness be
presented in a variety of appropriate formats. As previously noted, many
older individuals do not have direct access to or facility with the Internet,
so information must be provided in written and other forms that can be
readily accessed and used. The statement “Go to our Web site” will not
suffice for many older individuals.
During the immediate response to a regional disaster, law enforcement
will establish control perimeters to assure that recovery can occur and that
individuals other than first responders are not put at unnecessary risk.
Many professional health care and senior service workers do not necessarily
have universally recognized identification cards. It is important to
establish a secure system of photo identification and permits to ensure access
to homebound clients by health care and senior service workers when
an emergency occurs.
Related to this is the often-contentious issue of requiring personal
identification cards for individuals. The rapid identification of individuals
with specific health care requirements ensures these individuals are
quickly and appropriately provided care and services. Smart cards —electronic
medical records stored on cards similar to credit cards—can also
be used to provide a repository of critical medical information that may
not be otherwise available.
Caregivers who must go into disaster areas or shelters to provide
care must be provided relief as well as reliable communication systems to
allow them to be in contact with physicians, pharmacists, and other health
specialists. There are formal volunteer groups that can be accessed through
the U.S. Freedom Corps, including the health-specific Medical Reserve
Corps. It is also important to tap local volunteers who may be willing to assist
health care providers in an emergency.
There are no consistent national or state emergency preparedness
plans that detail how to provide services to older persons. Most plans pro-