Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 3 The Geriatric Emergency Preparedness and Response (GEPR) 61
an ethnogeriatric curriculum module on the mental health needs of ethnic
elders known to be at risk for certain conditions such as diabetes and
sensory loss and vulnerable in a disaster or emergency situation; and
(2) provide training for faculty, primary care providers, interdisciplinary
health professionals, and students using classroom and distance methods
of learning. In addition to developing a module on emergency preparedness
for sensory-impaired ethnic elders with diabetes, SGEC developed
a mnemonic, ETHNIC ELDERS (Table 3.4), to guide the development
of curriculum content on emergency preparedness for ethnic elders and
their families.
SUMMARY
The GEPR Collaborative, through the development of a common goal,
protocols, materials, shared information and resources, and a unified dis-
ETHNIC ELDERS MNEMONIC
ETHNIC ELDERS Mnemonic
E evaluate risk to ethnic elders
T translate technical information to simple, indigenous terms
H help the elder communicate special needs
N negotiate/navigate pathways to trust relationship
I intervene with culturally appropriate plans
C collaborate with family, community, and ethnic media
E explain how to access local/neighborhood resources
L label survival kits (English and other languages)
D differentiate stress-induced anxiety and language differences
E educate elder, family, and community leaders
R respect traditional healing practices and rituals
S support with nonverbal behaviors
Table 3.4
From “Geriatric Education Centers Prepare to Combat Bioterrorism,” by N. Tumosa, 2003,
Aging Successfully, 13 (1), 20–21.