Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Chapter 4 Coordinating Services 69
their preparation for and response to disasters. The following are among
the findings highlighted:
n Older individuals do not use technology to the same degree as
younger individuals; older persons are less likely to register in advance
of disasters, less likely to register immediately after, and often
do not follow-up. The lack of follow-up is largely because many
agencies have moved to Web-based information systems, which are
not accessed to a high degree by older persons. The Kaiser Family
Foundation (2005) found that less than a third (31%) of senior citizens
aged 65 and older have ever gone online but that more than
two-thirds (70%) of the next generation of seniors, 50–64 years old,
have done so.
n Older persons are not as likely to use formal aid and assistance resources
because of an historical pattern of a higher sense of pride
in self-reliance.
n Their social isolation as a result of a lack of family and other social
support during recovery may make older persons more vulnerable
to mental and physical abuse.
n Older persons have neither employment options nor other alternatives
for obtaining additional funds to deal with the economic
impact of a disaster. Further, both their person and their property
are typically underinsured.
THE FEDERAL APPROACH
The federal approach centered on amending the Older Americans Act so
older persons would receive limited financial assistance. However, this approach
has resulted in an often-fragmented response involving multiple
agencies, each with their own missions and related administrative costs to
cover. Subsequent to the events of September 11, 2001, and hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the method for distribution of federal financial assistance
has been to provide funding at the state level rather than the local
level, with the provision that each state establish state-level priorities. The
process for providing limited financial support included the provision of
funds through individual state agencies on aging. Thus, the implementation
and distribution of resources is at the sole discretion of individual
states and their agencies. This often means funds are initially expended at