Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

216 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
have found that these skills can be adapted to teach older persons with
physical and cognitive frailties and stress (McBee, 2008; Smith, 2004). In
addition, small studies on the use of mindfulness training, to date unpublished,
also demonstrate the effectiveness of mindfulness and mind-body
skills following a disaster or trauma specifically to treat PTSD (Anchorena,
2009; Niles, Klunk-Gillis, & Paysnick, 2009; Saveland, 2009; Smith, 2009).
Gordon, Staples, Blyta, Bytyqi, and Wilson (2008) reported that 82 high
school students in Kosovo who met the criteria for PTSD as measured by
the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire were offered a program using guided
imagery, breathing techniques, and biofeedback as well as creative expressive
therapies. The percentage of participants with symptoms indicating
PTSD was significantly reduced from 100% to 18% following these interventions.
The symptom reduction remained at follow-up 3 months later.
Mindfulness is a core mind-body practice. As with all mind-body practices,
understanding the intellectual concepts is only one aspect. In order
to teach mindfulness, the teacher must also be a practitioner. The following
exercise is intended for disaster preparedness program planners
or health professionals who need self-help tools to maintain optimum performance
during and after disasters. The exercise can be adapted easily
for use with older persons; their caregivers; volunteers; professionals and
ancillary support staff; and others pre-, during-, and postdisaster.
Try this:
Find a quiet space where you will not be interrupted for the next few minutes.
Sit or lie comfortably in a position that you can hold without moving.
Also, make sure you can breathe comfortably. Make sure your chest and
belly are open, and if your clothing is tight around the waist, loosen it. Close
your eyes if it is comfortable for you, otherwise, fi nd a spot on the fl oor,
wall, or ceiling to gaze at. Keep this gaze soft and steady, focusing internally.
Notice your breath. Is it fast or slow, even or ragged, deep or shallow? Stay
with each breath. In and out, notice the pauses between the in and the out,
the exhalation and the inhalation. Do this exercise for 1–3 minutes. Has
your mind wandered? At times, our mind may pull us away to events in the
past or the future. At times, physical sensations may distract us, or emotions
arise. When this happens, and you become aware of it, simply take note and
return your attention to your breath. (McBee, 2008, p. 17 )
In mindfulness meditation, the practitioner maintains an open awareness,
acceptance, and even curiosity of whatever may arise. Mindfulness
is a mind-body intervention that incorporates formal and informal practices.
Formal practice sets aside established periods for meditation, walk-