Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 18 Disaster Related Elder Mistreatment (DREM) 365
there are inherent cultural and sociodemographic characteristics that
affect this perception and response. According to AARP (2006), older
persons are more likely to have lower literacy levels when compared to
younger adults, be non-English speakers, be unable to drive, or live alone
in isolated rural areas. Oftentimes, when older persons are separated
from or lose spouses or family, they become isolated (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2003; U.S. Administration on Aging & Kansas
Department of Aging, 2003). This isolation can be seen as a measure to
protect themselves from theft or abuse ( Weems, et al., 2007). However,
during disasters this isolation will prevent older persons from obtaining
essential services (HelpAge International, 2006). During the New York
City blackout, hurricanes, wildfires, and also during terrorist attacks, isolated
older people who had not received services were found by relief or
rescue workers or neighbors long after the disaster. The literature provides
additional examples of older persons who remained in their apartments
during disasters, unaware of what had transpired beyond their
private space. Sometimes this isolation effect is the result of cultural parochialism.
Whatever the reason, the result is socially debilitating to an
older population that generally lacks a real support system. Relief agencies
and local communities are potential sources of service for isolated
older persons during disasters.
FROM VULNERABILITY TO RISK OF MISTREATMENT
It is clear that older persons are a vulnerable population, particularly during
disasters. Geroff and Olshaker (2006) reviewed the literature concerning
how certain risk factors made older persons more likely to be
mistreated. While most research indicates a significant relationship between
mistreatment and both older age and poor mental health (National
Center on Elder Abuse, 1998), the relationship is not as clear when dealing
with other variables such as gender or infirmity (Charatan, 2006;
Cherniack, 2008; Cherniack, Sandals, Brooks, & Mintzer, 2008; Geroff &
Olshaker, 2006).
Moreover, Ehrenreich and McQuaide (2001) noted how during disasters
there is a larger chance of older persons being victimized (Hyer,
Polivka-West, & Brown, 2007; Jones, Walker, & Krohmer, 1995), and, as
previously stated, relief response tends to be inconsistent with the actual
need of the older population. Within the context of the impact of a disaster
on the overall community, meeting the needs of older people may