Social & Community

Disaster Planning for Older Adults

If a disaster hit your community tomorrow, would you be prepared? Planning ahead for emergencies is important for all of us – but it’s critical for older adults. “Because they are more likely to have impaired physical mobility, chronic health conditions, or other limitations, older adults are more vulnerable than younger people during a disaster,” explains geriatric psychiatrist and UAB Associate Professor of Neurology and Pathology Richard E. Powers, MD, who also serves as Medical Director of the Alabama Department of Health and Mental Retardation, a position in which he coordinates care for mentally handicapped individuals during emergencies.

Develop a Disaster Plan

Dr. Powers emphasizes that while there are many different types of disasters, there are common elements of a good disaster plan that apply to any emergency. “The priority for older adults and their families is to plan ahead,” he says. “Hurricane Katrina disrupted the healthcare system and other critical components of the infrastructure in New Orleans, which had a negative impact on thousands of older adults. When you have a disaster plan in place, you have a better chance of surviving until help arrives or basic services are restored.”

Elements of a good disaster plan include:

• Communication plan. Designate one person in your family who will receive updates about the whereabouts and well-being of other family members during a disaster.
• Personalized emergency plan. Develop a plan that lists where you can go in an emergency, what you should bring with you (such as medications, eyeglasses, oxygen, or other assistive technologies), how you will get there, and whom you should call for help.
• Basic emergency supply kit. This to-go kit should include everything you would need if you had to leave your home quickly. Consider including the following items:
  • Flashlight
  • Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • At least a week’s supply of medications
  • Enough food and water to last three days
  • Photocopies of prescriptions and a list of doctors and pharmacies in a waterproof bag
  • Copies of essential documents, such as Social Security Card, Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance cards
  • A small amount of cash (no more than $50)

Long-Term Care Facilities

Dr. Power advises family members with a loved one in a nursing home, assisted living, or other long-term care facility to get specific details about the facility’s disaster plan. “Particularly if you have a relative in a long-term care facility located in a hurricane-prone area, you should find out the specific evacuation policy,” he adds. Other questions that are important for family members to ask include:

• What is the facility’s emergency plan?
• How does the facility define an emergency?
• Are there adequate supplies and generators on hand?
• When will evacuation occur?
• How will evacuation be carried out?
• How will family members be notified that a resident has been evacuated?
• How often are facility residents given information about the emergency plan?