Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

136 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
older adults may be more likely to perceive that assistance will be available
to them in crisis and, thus, experience improved psychological health.
The unique perspective of older adults could also inform provisions for
special housing, evacuation, and medical needs in preparedness planning.
A report on recommendations for best practices in the management of
older disaster victims describes the importance of replicating a coordinated
community-based caregiving system for older adults during disasters,
including preparing portable medical records and developing shelter
settings to accommodate their special needs (Baylor College of Medicine
& American Medical Association, 2006). A coordinated approach to
preparedness for older adults would include the participation of older
adults in community-wide disaster planning, the enumeration and location
of older adults coordinated by the local emergency operations center prior
to a disaster, a unified database of special needs available to all partners
in emergency planning and response, and the development of a multilayered
support network to ensure the health and safety of older adults in
their homes or after evacuation.
SUMMARY
In times of disaster, resources are scarce and groups with the greatest
needs, such as older persons and the disabled, are often neglected (Aldrich
& Benson, 2008; Gibson, 2006; Kaniasty & Norris, 1995; Thompson,
et al., 1993). While a pattern of concern may improve the provision of assistance
to the most needy in a disaster (Kaniasty & Norris), it does not ensure
the mobilization of assistance to older adults as evidenced by the
disproportionate burden of mortality among older adults following Hurricane
Katrina (Gibson). Embedding older adults within the network of
community preparedness will allow for planning to address their unique
challenges, incorporate their capacities and competence, and leverage
their abilities to call upon long-standing reciprocal relationships for social
support.
REFERENCES
AARP. (2006). Dealing with disaster. Washington, DC: Author.
Adger, W. N., Hughes, T. P., Folke, C., Carpenter, S. R., & Rockstrom, J. (2005). Socialecological
resilience to coastal disasters. Science, 309 (573), 1036–1039.
Aldrich, N., & Benson, W. F. (2008). Disaster preparedness and the chronic disease needs
of vulnerable older adults. Preventing Chronic Disease, 5 (1), A27.