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Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

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18<br />

<strong>Disaster</strong> Related Elder<br />

Mistreatment (DREM)<br />

IAN PORTELLI AND TERRY FULMER<br />

DEFINITION AND TYPOLOGY OF DREM<br />

<strong>Disaster</strong>s, both natural <strong>and</strong> man-made, are tumultuous by their very nature<br />

<strong>and</strong> affect all people regardless of race, age, or class. However, the<br />

older population is particularly vulnerable during these times. During<br />

Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, 64% of all fatalities were people over the<br />

age of 65, with 49% over age 75 (Brunkard, Namul<strong>and</strong>a, & Ratard, 2008).<br />

These numbers are particularly striking in that only 11.7% of New Orleans’s<br />

population (Baylor College of Medicine [BCM] & American Medical<br />

Association [AMA], 2006 ) were affected by the disaster. Of the older victims,<br />

68% died in nursing homes, with some allegedly ab<strong>and</strong>oned by their<br />

caretakers (AARP, 2006). Ab<strong>and</strong>onment is one form of elder mistreatment,<br />

a practice potentially more damaging <strong>and</strong> most frequent in disaster<br />

situations (Castle, 2008).<br />

<strong>Disaster</strong> related elder mistreatment (DREM) as a term is still being<br />

adapted <strong>and</strong> explored to fit the disaster public health realm. The literature<br />

does not showcase a single definition to this ontology. For the purposes<br />

of this discussion, DREM is defined in the following ways:<br />

1. An intentional action that causes harm or creates a serious risk<br />

of harm (whether or not harm is intended) to a vulnerable elder<br />

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