Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 17 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders 357
unable to understand directions or process information. Furthermore,
they are especially sensitive to trauma; can be easily agitated, frustrated,
or overwhelmed; and can be prone to wander or hide. These types of behaviors
will affect the ability of first responders to do their job.
A normal response to someone not following directions during a disaster
is to use logic to explain the situation. If the person with dementia
does not appear to understand the situation, this type of communication
may lead to further frustration and agitation. Instead, the first responder
should explain that he or she is there to help. Speak slowly, calmly, and
directly to the person while maintaining eye contact. Keep communication
simple, and be aware that information may need to be repeated or
that the person may need more time to process the information. During
a disaster situation, it may not seem wise to slow things down. However,
when possible, taking extra time to communicate with a demented person
may help avoid having to use physical force or restraints and in the
end will likely save time.
Evacuations are generally chaotic. First responders are often responsible
for determining where people will go and how they get there. It is
essential for first responders to do whatever is necessary and possible
to avoid separating persons with dementia from their family members
or caregivers. Even in the earlier stages of the disease, persons with dementia
may become disoriented and unable to cope on their own. If it
becomes necessary to separate a person with dementia from his or her
caregiver due to emergency or medical situations, the responders should
make sure that the person with dementia has on his or her person identifying
and contact information and that family members are told where
the person with dementia is being taken.
Tips for Staff of Disaster Response Agencies
One of the roles of disaster response agencies during an emergency or disaster
is to provide assistance to those affected by the disaster. Often this
assistance is in the form of providing and maintaining emergency shelters
where evacuated or relocated individuals live until they can return home.
While there are shelters designed for people with special needs and disabilities,
it is not always possible for evacuees to get to those shelters.
Shelters can often appear chaotic, loud, and overwhelming, even for a person
without cognitive challenges. For a person with dementia, a shelter
environment is likely to be frightening, which can lead to episodes of challenging
behaviors.