Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

168 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
Although emergency organizations, such as the American Red Cross,
now have materials and plans for dealing with older and disabled people
during emergencies, a next important step is volunteers trained to work
with vulnerable people to doubly ensure their specific needs will be met
during a crisis. The materials that have recently become available can be
useful tools for training volunteers.
One study found that older people know very little about how to protect
themselves during emergencies (Rosenkoetter, et al., 2007). There
is a tremendous need for public education about emergency preparedness.
More must be done to reach older persons and persons with disabilities
(Gibson & Hayunga, 2006). If older persons do not know how to
prepare, if they are unable to do so, or if they do not know they should be
preparing, then by definition they are at risk (Rosenkoetter, et al.). The
findings suggest communication that adequately and accurately informs
older people of approaching disasters is critical (Rosenkoetter, et al.).
Accurate and timely predisaster information is especially important and
should include developing and tailoring messages to influence older
people (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008). Officials could promote
public acceptance by explaining how decisions are made, what emergency
measures need to be taken, and where older adults can access information
(Rosenkoetter, et al.). It is particularly important that older
people are involved in these discussions and decisions, advising on how
best to reach older people in emergency situations and how older people
want to receive such messages (Public Health Agency of Canada).
Volunteers could then be recruited to create and distribute educational
information at senior centers, religious and congregate meal sites, and
where low-income older adults are known to cluster.
Communities need to maintain special needs registries to assist older
adults, especially those with physical and mental illnesses or disabilities,
with medical and transfer needs in the event of a disaster and encourage
residents to plan ahead as well as to know where they can go and how
to get there (Rosenkoetter, et al., 2007). As governments are invariably
overextended in times of emergency, and humanitarian and other relief
agencies are under-resourced, communities have an important role in
maintaining links between older people and disaster recovery services
(Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008). More emergency preparedness
planning is needed at the community level. Engaging neighborhood
leaders and block wardens is an effective way to keep vulnerable persons
from slipping through the cracks (Gibson & Hayunga, 2006).