Emergencies and Natural Disasters: Are we prepared?

The recent water emergency in the Greater Boston Area has raised some questions for us as eldercare professionals and members of seniors’ families about our readiness to deal with an emergency or natural disaster. We made it our goal this month to research what issues had been identified for older and disabled adults and how we can better prepare our clients and families to cope with disaster.

Several types of emergencies could threaten the safety of older and disabled adults such as a terrorist attack, flood, hurricane, earthquake, tornado, blizzard, or water crisis. According to an AARP survey, roughly 13 million people aged 50 and older say they will need help to evacuate in a natural disaster. About half of these individuals will require help from someone outside of their household. As an example, in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, roughly 71% of the victims were older than 60 and 47% were over the age of 75 (AARP Press Center, 2006).

Issues Raised by Former Disasters / Emergencies

Both Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 terrorist attack have brought to light issues and concerns for older and disabled adults that may have not been previously considered or planned for.For example:

* Essential services such as meals for the homebound and home health care were not delivered because staff had no official authorization to carry out their responsibilities.

* Home Health Aides were unable to check on whether or not their patients had been rescued. They were denied access because they lacked proper identification showing they were service professionals.

* Disabled people who were unable to leave their apartments were left behind with no electricity, no running water, and no information about what was happening and what they should do.

* There was no way to identify vulnerable people who were not connected to a community service agency.

* People did not know whom to call for assistance and there was much confusion over identifying and accessing phone numbers of organizations that could help.

* Local pharmacies were closed, doctors’ offices were difficult to reach, and older people could not physically get to pharmacies to pick up medications.

Planning Ahead

Having identified these issues, many state and federal agencies have now developed recommendations for how older and disabled adults and their families can cope with a disaster. These agencies insist planning ahead for a disaster with family and care attendants will minimize the potential neglect that can result in trauma or death. Every family should have an emergency plan that includes safety precautions for older or disabled family members, whether they are residing in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities or living independently.

Based on these recommendations we compiled the following list of ways you can help an elder or disabled adult prepare for a disaster.

Get Informed

Ask about specific hazards that threaten the community and your risks, community response plans, evacuation plans, designated emergency shelters, warning plans, special assistance programs available in the event of an emergency, service providers, emergency plans, and facility based emergency plans.

Complete a Personal Assessment

Consider how a disaster might affect the elder or disabled adult’s individual needs. Identify what resources are used on a daily basis and what might be done if they are limited or not available. Make a list of personal needs and the resources available for meeting them in a disaster environment.

Create a Personal Support Network

Establish a group of people that can help in an emergency. Make an emergency plan. Make sure everyone in the network knows the plan and where the elder or disabled adult will go in case of a disaster.

Document / Stockpile Medications

Document and store all prescription medication information, including dosages and treatment and allergy information.

Prepare Emergency Documents

Make copies of important documents such as health insurance cards, Medicare cards, and Health Care Proxy agreements, and store them in a waterproof container.

Compile an Emergency Survival Kit

Create an emergency box that contains essential items a person would need to survive in an emergency, such as battery operated radio, flashlight, batteries, first-aid kit, non-perishable food, cell phone with extra battery, etc.

Plan for Pets

If someone is evacuated, pets may not be allowed in emergency shelters. Contact local animal shelter or emergency management office or talk to a veterinarian to find out what options there are for pets if they must be left behind.

Other Important Ideas

Phones for Life: Senior Cell Phones

Provides free cell phones so that seniors can dial 911 in an emergency. www.phones4life.org

Vial of Life

Provides free vial of life kits to all seniors that include a form indicating their demographic information, current and past medical conditions, blood type, medications and allergies, doctor’s contact information, special instructions and emergency contact information. This form is placed in a seal-able plastic bag on the refrigerator and a decal is placed on the front door.

http://www.vialoflife.com/

Financial Planning: Electronic Payments for Federal Benefits

One simple, significant way people can protect themselves financially before disaster strikes is to sign up for electronic payments for federal benefits.

Go Direct (800) 333-1795, www.GoDirect.org

Direct Express® (877) 212-9991, www.USDirectExpress.com

Identification for Service Providers

Contact service providers such as home health agencies to ask about what identification is available to home health and transportation providers should they need to reach an older or disabled adult during a disaster.

For this e-blast, we have included only a basic list of how to prepare for a disaster. If you would like more detail about disaster planning, please call or email us for a detailed list of ideas. Our Care Management department also offers emergency planning for our clients. Please contact us if this service would be helpful to you or an older or disabled person that you know.

Other Resources / Printed Material

Ready America Older Americans Emergency Preparedness Brochure

http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/seniors.html

Disaster Preparation by Seniors for Seniors

http://www.redcrosstbc.org/pdf/DisasterPreparednessSeniors.pdf

Emergency Preparedness for Older People
http://www.ilcusa.org/media/pdfs/epopib.pdf