Seniors, Emergencies and Disasters
Recent natural disasters around the world, including earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and wildfires, have heightened awareness about emergency management.
The four pillars of emergency management are: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
- Prevention and mitigation entail proactive measures taken before an emergency situation occurs in the interest of eliminating or reducing the potential risks and impacts.
- Preparedness refers to actions taken to become ready to respond to an emergency situation if and when one occurs.
- Response refers to the actions that are taken during and immediately after an emergency situation in order to manage the consequences, and in particular to limit harm and loss, including loss of life.
- Recovery involves efforts to repair or restore conditions to an acceptable level through measures taken after a disaster.
As federal, provincial and municipal efforts to enhance emergency management gain momentum, it is critical that the specific needs of older adults, including those who are aging with mental health needs and cognitive impairments, are considered.
It is also critical that older adults have the opportunity to participate to the extent that they can in the resilience and resource building efforts of their communities. This includes older adults who reside in congregate living environments like nursing homes and long term care facilities.
The CCSMH is represented on an International Working Group (IWG) focused on seniors and emergencies from the perspective of health care providers and continuity of health services. Recently, a knowledge translation and dissemination project was undertaken to increase the accessibility of networking options, tools and resources that have been developed by the three Working Groups convened by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). CCSMH agreed to host associated documents and links.
International Working Groups Resource List
This list directs the reader to resources affiliated with the IWGs under one of these categories:
- Commissioned by PHAC in support of the overall Seniors and Emergencies mandate or specifically to support the work of an IWG (i.e., contractual agreement or other financial support).
- Voluntary collaboration among IWG members promoted, endorsed and/or facilitated under the auspices of an IWG.
- Related work by IWG members since inception (2006 onwards).
The resources that are included address older people as individuals/citizens, family members, community members, care or service recipients, members of an "at risk" group and /or in some other capacity AND some aspects of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and/or recovery.
Select Documents Commissioned by PHAC
- Psychosocial Issues Pertaining to Seniors in Emergencies
- Guideline: Addressing Older Adults' Distinct Psychosocial Issues in Emergency Situations (English) (French)
- Seniors and Emergencies International Working Groups (IWG) Resource List
- Seniors and Disasters: A Synthesis of Four Canadian Case Studies
- Literature Review: The Roles and Responsibilities of Health Practitioners of Older Adults in Emergency Management
- Impact of the July 1996 floods on older persons in Quebec's Saguenay Region
- Personal Emergency Response Systems: Disaster Management
Links
- Public Health Agency of Canada/Seniors/Emergency Preparedness
- American Geriatric Society Special Interest Group on Disasters and Elderly Collaborative Online Space
- Brown LM, Frahm KA, Hyer K, Gibson M. (2011). Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide for Nursing Homes, 2nd edition.
- Gibson M. (2011). E-learning Program:Frailty, Dementia and Disasters: What Health Care Providers Need to Know // Gestion des mesures d'urgence, fragilité, démence et désastres: Ce que les intervenants doivent savoir.
For more information, contact the CCSMH Seniors and Emergencies Section Leader
Maggie Gibson, Ph.D., C.Psych.Psychologist, Veterans Care Program, Parkwood Hospital,
St. Joseph 's Health Care, London, Ontario, Canada
Contact:
maggie.gibson@sjhc.london.on.ca
[updated October 2011]