Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

350 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
worried, and even panicked, but you don’t understand why. Obviously
this would be extremely confusing. While any type of disaster causes unavoidable
disruption, careful preparation and preparedness along with a
well-thought-out response to this vulnerable population can mitigate the
devastating effects.
Reactions from a person with dementia are often unpredictable; in
the case of a disaster, these reactions are even harder to foresee. Understanding
the types of reactions that may occur will help families and caregivers
be prepared and respond appropriately. The person with dementia
most likely has a limited ability to understand what is happening or what
has been communicated and may have difficulty negotiating new surroundings
or a change in schedule. Not understanding what is going on
can lead to adverse reactions or behaviors.
Wandering
Case Study
Jane Glavin is staying at a shelter after being evacuated from her nursing
home in Biloxi, Mississippi. She and the other residents of the Alzheimer’s
unit have been assigned to cots in a high school gymnasium approximately
150 miles from their home. The shelter is staffed with Red
Cross volunteers who are making sure that the 500 people staying at the
shelter are checked in, have their meals, and are assigned cots. The nursing
home has two staff members at the shelter making sure that the 12
residents are well taken care of. While the staff is busy assisting other residents,
Jane decides to use the restroom. Unsure of where the restroom
is or who to ask for directions, Jane eventually wanders out the front door
of the high school. Two Red Cross volunteers see her exit the building but
are unaware of her dementia and therefore have no reason to stop her.
About 30 minutes later, the nursing home staff approach the volunteer
station to ask if they have seen one of their residents, Jane, as they cannot
find her. After learning that Jane was seen leaving the building, they alert
the heavily burdened police to the fact that there is a missing person. After
2 hours, Jane is spotted walking down the exit ramp of a busy highway.
She is subsequently safely returned to the shelter.
Wandering is one of the most dangerous behaviors for the person
with dementia. It often arises as the result of confusion. The aimless and
purposeful motor activity that results from wandering causes social problems
such as getting lost, leaving a safe environment, or intruding in inappropriate
places. Approximately 46% of people who wander will face