Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

356 Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
program, mentioned earlier, is a jewelry identification that the resident
always wears and that will be with the older person during an emergency.
If communication is available, one call to a 24-hour response center can
provide all necessary information about the resident. There are also electronic
tools, such as USB drives that can be plugged into a computer once
a resident arrives at a new location, that can assist a facility in identifying
residents and accessing medical information.
Communicating With Residents’ Families
The family members and caregivers of residents should be educated about
the facility’s disaster plans. For example, if families know how the facility
will handle an emergency or disaster, as well as the conditions under
which evacuations will occur and where the facility plans to evacuate, they
will be able to respond accordingly. This can help avoid unnecessary confusion
and panic for family members and caregivers during and immediately
after a disaster.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
The term first responder refers to a variety of groups including lawenforcement
agencies, fire departments, emergency medical technicians,
and disaster response agencies. Each of these groups play different roles
during a disaster, and all are trained to work with individuals who are
emotionally fragile, scared, and even panicked. They are trained to work
quickly, often with lives at stake. However, persons with dementia may
pose additional challenges for first responders because cognitively impaired
persons may not understand what is happening or realize that the
first responders are there to help. Catastrophic reactions or other agitated
behaviors may impede the work of the first responders. A basic understanding
of dementia and some simple communication tips can help first
responders react quickly and effectively move the person with dementia
to safety.
Tips for Law Enforcement, Fire Departments,
and Emergency Medical Technicians
In disaster situations, the top priority is saving lives and preventing injuries
by mobilizing people and resources. A person with dementia may be