Bethesda, Maryland--While many older Americans display resiliency and strength in the face of natural and man-made disasters, communities and families should have targeted disaster preparedness and aftermath plans in place for vulnerable older adults, says the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

In an official position statement published in the November American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, AAGP’s Disaster Preparedness Task Force members advise special planning and response for older adults who are typically more vulnerable to the physical and emotional stresses of a disaster. They include individuals with:

· Advanced age or frailty
· Cognitive impairment (for example, elderly with dementia)
· Severe mental illness or chronic disability due to mental illness (for example, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression)
· Poor physical health, complex medical illness, or mobility
· Sensory impairment (for example, vision or hearing problems)
· Lack of close family caregivers or local social supports

AAGP’s task force members point out that among the deaths in New Orleans as the result of Hurricane Katrina, 74 percent were people older than 60, and half were older than 75 years (Dyer et al, 2008). One year after Hurricane Katrina, the elderly were disproportionately affected with the highest health decline, mortality, and suicide rates of any age group (Kessler et al, 2008).

“AAGP’s appointment of a task force to address the paucity of attention to the elderly was greatly needed,” said Kenneth Sakauye, MD, co-chair of the AAGP Disaster Preparedness Task Force and a New Orleans resident during Hurricane Katrina. He explained, “The existing theory that those closest to the trauma are the most traumatized is only partially true. For the elderly, negative perception, disruption of support networks, and feeling that no help is forthcoming contribute equally to overall stress.”

AAGP’s position statement outlines a number of recommendations for caregivers and policymakers on preparedness, early response, and late response to minimize the impact on vulnerable older adults. For example, families and other caregivers are advised that cognitively impaired older adults, such as those with Alzheimer’s disease, may decline during and after a disaster, and wandering and behavioral outbursts may increase. Caregivers can help older adults by promoting a sense of safety, connectedness, and hope.

AAGP suggests primary care providers screen older patients for disaster preparedness and special needs, and in response to a disaster, conduct outreach to the most vulnerable older patients living on their own.

AAGP calls upon policymakers to designate frail elderly and dementia patients as high-risk populations requiring specific disaster protocols, and include geriatric primary care providers and mental health specialists in disaster planning groups. AAGP recommends the development of training materials for first responders to prepare them for the needs of the elderly, and the collaboration of community agencies, service providers, and church groups to provide coordinated response efforts.

For the full article, AAGP Position Statement: Disaster Preparedness for Older Americans: Critical Issues for the Preservation of Mental Health, and the full list of recommendations, visit www.AJGPonline.org or http://journals.lww.com/ajgponline/Abstract/2009/11000/AAGP_Position_Statement__Disaster_Preparedness_for.3.aspx.

Interviews available upon request.

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (www.AAGPonline.org) is a national association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry. AAGP’s mission is to enhance the knowledge base and standard of practice in geriatric psychiatry through education and research and to advocate for meeting the mental health needs of older Americans.

The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry is the official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and can be found online at www.AJGPonline.org.

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Contact: Kate McDuffie, kmcduffie@aagponline.org, 301.654.7850 ext. 113