Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 17 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders 355
to be called, cultural background, names of family members and friends,
what upsets them, what calms them, and typical patterns of behavior, in
addition to regular drinking and eating habits. This type of knowledge can
be pivotal in preventing or managing agitated behaviors.
Nutrition Concerns
During a disaster, it can be very difficult to maintain a regular drinking
and eating schedule. However, it is important to be aware that residents
with dementia may not be able to ask for food or drink and may need cueing
or reminders. Being hungry or thirsty can add stress to a situation for
anyone, but for a person with dementia, the added stress can precipitate
an adverse or catastrophic reaction.
Challenging Behaviors
Specific training in the management of challenging behaviors that may
arise in reaction to a disaster should be included as part of the overall
training of all residential care staff. For instance, regular cueing to the
environment can help residents feel safer. Making sure they know how
to find the restroom, dining room, or who to ask for help is important.
Reminders about what has happened, such as, “We had to move because
there was a fire and we are going to stay here for awhile,” may be necessary.
Establishing a consistent routine as soon as possible is also helpful.
If the facility is being evacuated, try to have each resident bring a small
personal or comforting item with him or her. Finally, engaging the residents
in structured activities, including exercise when appropriate, can
lesson their anxiety.
Identifying Residents
During the chaos of a disaster, residents with dementia may wander off,
get lost, or become otherwise separated from the group. Therefore, it is
essential that facilities establish a method to identify residents who may
be unable to provide relevant personal information, including their name,
names of family members, and critical medical conditions.
There are several ways to identify residents. Some facilities utilize
plastic pouches that hold information sheets about the resident. These
pouches can be pinned directly to the resident’s clothing in the event of
an emergency. The Alzheimer’s Association MedicAlert + Safe Return