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Disaster Planning Tips for Older Adults and their Families

MEDIA CONTACT CDC Healthy Aging Program Health Benefits ABCs: William F. Benson Disaster Planning tips for Older Adults and their Families No one who sees a Disaster is untouched by it. It is normal to feel anxious about you and your family s safety. Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration By the time Adults have lived through six or more decades, they have probably experienced more than one Disaster . Many Older Adults can be an asset during a Disaster , calling upon their prior experience, wisdom and mental resilience to survive, help others, and provide reassurance to those who are frightened or depressed by the events.

particularly vulnerable during a disaster, especially if they have one or more chronic illnesses, functional limitations, or dementia. Emergency preparedness experts have begun to recognize the special needs of older adults with chronic conditions following a disaster and are planning to assist this population.

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Transcription of Disaster Planning Tips for Older Adults and their Families

1 MEDIA CONTACT CDC Healthy Aging Program Health Benefits ABCs: William F. Benson Disaster Planning tips for Older Adults and their Families No one who sees a Disaster is untouched by it. It is normal to feel anxious about you and your family s safety. Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration By the time Adults have lived through six or more decades, they have probably experienced more than one Disaster . Many Older Adults can be an asset during a Disaster , calling upon their prior experience, wisdom and mental resilience to survive, help others, and provide reassurance to those who are frightened or depressed by the events.

2 However, certain aspects of the aging process can make many Older Adults particularly vulnerable during a Disaster , especially if they have one or more chronic illnesses, functional limitations, or dementia. Emergency preparedness experts have begun to recognize the special needs of Older Adults with chronic conditions following a Disaster and are Planning to assist this population. Despite urging by government and health officials, many members of the public have not planned for a Disaster or stocked supplies. However, the Advertising Council, which works with the Department of Homeland Security on public education campaigns, has identified some recent improvements in people s willingness to prepare for emergencies.

3 The proportion of Americans who said they have taken any steps to prepare rose from 45 percent in 2005 to 55 percent in 2006. The council also found that 54 percent of those surveyed in 2006 had put together an emergency kit, 39 percent had created a family emergency plan, and 40 percent had searched for information about preparedness. Much information and many resources are available to help Older Adults and their Families plan for potential disasters, gain confidence that they have done everything they can do, and then relax and get on with life. An old saying goes, When you carry an umbrella, it will not rain.

4 However, if an emergency does occur, being prepared can save valuable time and possibly lives. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states on its website: Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. WHY ARE Older Adults MORE vulnerable ? Older Adults are more vulnerable than younger Adults during a Disaster because they are more likely to have impaired physical mobility, diminished sensory awareness, chronic health conditions, or social and economic limitations that interfere with their ability to prepare for disasters and to respond and adapt during such events.

5 More than half of Older Adults have some kind of functional limitation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A 2005 Harris poll found that 13 million people aged 50 and Older said that they would need help to evacuate during a Disaster . Half of these people said that they would need help from someone outside their household. Older persons who are hard of hearing or cognitively impaired might have trouble understanding information or following directions. They might feel more easily overwhelmed by a Disaster , especially if they also have difficulty moving around, standing in line, or sleeping on a low cot in a noisy shelter.

6 Those who use wheelchairs, canes, or walkers cannot climb stairs if elevators stop working due to a power outage. Elders who no longer drive or do not own a car face difficulties evacuating. Older Adults also are more prone than younger people to ill effects from extreme temperature, especially if local electric utility or gas distribution services are disrupted for an extended period of time. Seniors living by themselves might not have a support system and many lack sufficient income or other resources to help cope with the after-effects of a Disaster . Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine and technology, many seriously ill people continue to live in their own homes with support from caregivers and professionals.

7 These people need a well-thought-out emergency plan to accommodate medical devices and medications. Frail Older Adults with certain chronic diseases or disabilities require assistance to survive and recover from a Disaster , especially if they are dependent on caregivers for assistance with their daily activities. Exposure to conditions associated with many disasters such as lack of safe food and water, extreme heat or cold, stress, or exposure to infection can aggravate chronic conditions that are common to Older Adults . Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are major causes of death and disability in the United States, according to CDC.

8 Furthermore, adverse events are more likely to occur if certain essential medications for chronic disease, such as insulin or blood thinners, are not available during an emergency. Populations of particular concern following a Disaster include those with a history of heart attack, stroke, or breathing disorders; people with diabetes; and those taking blood thinners, certain cancer therapies, or other essential medications. If people who are evacuated do not have the medications that have kept their heart disease, diabetes, or breathing problem stable, in three days some of them could have exacerbations that may require emergency management, warned CDC s heart specialist Dr.

9 George Mensah. This is a good reason for Older Adults , their Families , or their caregivers to take a few simple steps to prepare for an emergency. 2 HOW TO PLAN FOR A Disaster : Uncle Sam Wants YOU to Prepare! Government agencies are encouraging individuals and Families to plan for an emergency. Citizens should stock supplies now so they have ready-to-eat food, water, and batteries for flashlights and radios during an emergency. They should also have an evacuation plan and know in advance what to do with pets, according to Alison Johnson of CDC s Coordinating Center for Health Promotion.

10 It is one of those messages that people hear, but unless a Disaster has happened recently, they don t get around to it, Johnson said. In addition to a basic emergency supply kit, Older Adults need a personalized emergency plan listing where they can go in an emergency, what they should bring with them (such as medications, eyeglasses, hearing aids and extra batteries, oxygen, or assistive technologies), how they will get there, and who they should call for help. Those who use a communication, assistive, or mobility device should include provisions to transport this device with them if they need to evacuate.


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