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Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

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256 <strong>Geriatric</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Disaster</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> <strong>Preparedness</strong><br />

SUMMARY OF INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM OUTCOMES FOR THE STEPS EXERCISE<br />

STEPS<br />

PROCESS TEAM OUTCOMES/DECISIONS/ACTIONS<br />

Defi ne the<br />

problem (brainstorming<br />

phase)<br />

Defi ne the problem<br />

(consensus phase)<br />

Table 13.2<br />

Department for the Aging (DFTA) recruitment of<br />

volunteers for disaster/emergency work<br />

DFTA backup in cases of low volume of<br />

volunteers<br />

Hurricane/storm affecting area with large concentration<br />

of older persons<br />

Educating older persons at risk for dehydration/<br />

delirium during heat wave<br />

Snowstorm isolation of older persons. Risks<br />

for medical complications with psychiatric<br />

comorbidity<br />

Nursing home evacuation with staff<br />

shortage<br />

Managing fears of patients/caregivers <strong>and</strong> mental<br />

health risks as media feeds fears of terrorism<br />

(alerting vs. fueling fears)<br />

Bomb threat at government facility<br />

How do we manage staff, patient, <strong>and</strong> caregiver<br />

(formal <strong>and</strong> informal) fears in the face of terrorism/terrorist<br />

threats?<br />

Brainstorm solutions Staff pep talk sessions: We’ve done this before;<br />

we can do it again<br />

Boost the ability of staff <strong>and</strong> older residents<br />

to help older persons/caregivers/staff to underst<strong>and</strong><br />

coping strategies<br />

Educate all about the inevitability of terrorism<br />

<strong>and</strong> other disasters<br />

Establish support groups, educational programs,<br />

planning activities<br />

Help develop a disaster action plan with fi rst<br />

phase<br />

Approach focused on the most vulnerable older<br />

persons who can’t help themselves<br />

Develop caregivers support/educational<br />

group

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