scholarly journals Effective Communications Techniques for Communities to Reach Older Adults in a Natural Disaster

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 693-693
Author(s):  
Patricia Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
State Government ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Communication Model ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Community Groups ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Public Health Literacy

Abstract Framing timely messages during an emergency is often underestimated but is vitally essential and necessary, especially for the older population. While there is existing research on disaster and older adults, there is a gap in the literature that focuses on a 21st-century communication model that reaches at-risk populations. This presentation explores how practitioners can inspire change in the delivery of an emergency message to communities. Appropriately designed health communications will provide extensive knowledge about the health crisis and improve public health literacy among older adults in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, creating messages that influence necessary behavior change during the emergency. Additionally, recognizing how collaborative partnerships with Federal, Local, State government, trusted relief agencies, and community groups benefit from designing an organizational structure to disseminate information to the community. Part of a symposium sponsored by Disasters and Older Adults Interest Group.

scholarly journals Disaster Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 694-694
Author(s):  
Lisa Brown ◽  
Lindsay Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Social Marketing Campaign ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Response And Recovery

Abstract People who plan ahead typically fare better during the response and recovery phases of a disaster. However, problems arise when the needs, wants, abilities, and resources of vulnerable people are not adequately considered. The lack of alignment between the literacy demands of existing materials and the literacy skills of many vulnerable subgroups limits their ability to understand and effectively use potentially life-saving information. Existing health literacy models that have demonstrated effectiveness in changing health behaviors and improving outcomes is a first step to reducing disaster-related morbidity and mortality in low resource and low literacy areas. This presentation will 1) describe how interdisciplinary collaborations can be used to address this public health issue, 2) explain how health literacy techniques can be applied when developing disaster materials, and 3) present research data on a social marketing campaign to improved disaster preparedness of older adults. Part of a symposium sponsored by Disasters and Older Adults Interest Group.

Improving disaster preparedness, response and recovery for older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-447
Author(s):  
Mattia J. Gilmartin ◽  
Wanda Raby Spurlock ◽  
Nicoda Foster ◽  
Samir K. Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Response And Recovery

Delivering Flexible Education and Training to Health Professionals: Caring for Older Adults in Disasters

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-637
Author(s):  
Brian A. Altman ◽  
Kelly H. Gulley ◽  
Carlo Rossi ◽  
Kandra Strauss-Riggs ◽  
Kenneth Schor
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Disaster Medicine ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
And Training

AbstractThe National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), in collaboration with over 20 subject matter experts, created a competency-based curriculum titled Caring for Older Adults in Disasters: A Curriculum for Health Professionals. Educators and trainers of health professionals are the target audience for this curriculum. The curriculum was designed to provide breadth of content yet flexibility for trainers to tailor lessons, or select particular lessons, for the needs of their learners and organizations. The curriculum covers conditions present in the older adult population that may affect their disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; issues related to specific types of disasters; considerations for the care of older adults throughout the disaster cycle; topics related to specific settings in which older adults receive care; and ethical and legal considerations. An excerpt of the final capstone lesson is included. These capstone activities can be used in conjunction with the curriculum or as part of stand-alone preparedness training. This article describes the development process, elements of each lesson, the content covered, and options for use of the curriculum in education and training for health professionals. The curriculum is freely available online at the NCDMPH website at http://ncdmph.usuhs.edu (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:633–637).

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Exercise as a Coping Strategy for Health and Wellness Promotion in Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zan Gao ◽  
Jung Eun Lee ◽  
Daniel J. McDonough ◽  
Callie Albers
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Effective Intervention ◽  
World Health ◽  
Motor Ability ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Wellness Promotion

The December 2019 COVID-19 outbreak in China has led to worldwide quarantine, as recommended by local governments and the World Health Organization. Particularly affected are older adults (i.e., those aged ≥ 65 years) who are at elevated risk for various adverse health outcomes, including declines in motor ability and physical activity (PA) participation, increased obesity, impaired cognition, and various psychological disorders. Thus, given the secular increases in the older adult population, novel and effective intervention strategies are necessary to improve physical activity behaviors and health in this population. Virtual reality (VR)-integrated exercise is a promising intervention strategy, which has been utilized in healthcare fields like stroke rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Therefore, the purpose of this editorial is to synthesize recent research examining the efficacy and effectiveness of VR exercise in the promotion of favorable health outcomes among the older adults. Results indicate the application of VR exercise to facilitate improved physical outcomes (e.g., enhanced motor ability, reduced obesity), cognition and psychological outcomes. VR exercise has also been observed to be an effective intervention strategy for fall prevention in this population. Future research should employ more rigorous research designs to allow for a more robust quantitative synthesis of the effect of VR exercise on the preceding outcomes to elucidate which type(s) of VR-based PA interventions are most effective in promoting improved health outcomes among older adults. Findings from this study will better inform the development of technology-savvy PA programs for wellness promotion in older adults who practice social distancing and exercise from home under the unprecedented global health crisis.

scholarly journals Advocacy Through Partnerships: Data, Demographics, and Decisions

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 564-564
Author(s):  
Briana Sisofo ◽  
Anne Asman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
State Government ◽  
City Government ◽  
County Governments ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Hospital Administrators ◽  
Support Organizations ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
Private Citizens ◽  
Home Health Agencies

Abstract The Summit County Aging Alliance (SCAA) in Park City, Utah is representative of state government, county and city government(s), private citizens, land developers, Senior Center attendees, national and local associations, non-profit support organizations, home health agencies, colleges and universities, recreation centers, hospital administrators and area associations on aging. The focus of the Alliance has been to provide a forum for critical listening and discussion. Data from a survey to determine the ‘real’ needs and vision of the older adult community provided perspective from more than 100 older adults representing diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. This work is now providing a benchmark from which both the city and county governments in Summit County are creating their strategic plans, and the Alliance has become the official voice of the community’s older adults.

“There Was No ‘That’s Not My Job’”: New York Area Agencies on Aging Approaches to Supporting Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 073346482199102
Author(s):  
Claire Pendergrast
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Contextual Influences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Priority Needs

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many older adults’ traditional sources of formal and informal supports, increasing demand for Area Agency on Aging services (AAAs). This study examines strategies used by AAAs to support older adults’ health and well-being during COVID-19 and identifies contextual influences on AAA pandemic response activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of 20 AAAs in New York State. A combined inductive and deductive approach was used to code and thematically analyze the data. AAAs rapidly expanded capacity and dramatically modified program offerings, communications activities, and service delivery protocols to address emergent needs and minimize COVID-19 exposure risk for clients. AAAs’ trusted relationships with older adults and community partners improved their capacity to identify priority needs and coordinate appropriate supports. Policymakers should ensure that AAAs receive sustained financial and technical support to ensure critical community-based services are available for older adults throughout pandemic response and recovery.

scholarly journals Social integration and its relationship with functional limitations in Chilean older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L de Albuquerque Araújo ◽  
G Icaza Noguera ◽  
C Albala Brevis
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Lower Prevalence ◽  
Community Groups ◽  
Recreational Activities

Abstract We are experiencing the highest levels of life expectancy and it poses challenges in the maintenance of the functional capacity in old age. This study seeks to determine the relation between social integration and functional limitation in Chilean older adults. Cross-sectional study with baseline of two cohort studies: the SABE cohort (born before 1940) and the Alexandros cohort (born between 1940 and 1948 from Primary Health Care centers), from Santiago. Were considered 1733 elderly. Performance variables were studied in seven Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL): preparing food, managing money, leaving home alone, making purchases, making or receiving calls, doing light housework, organizing and taking medications, and six basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL): bathing, dressing, use of the bathroom, transfer, continence of urine and feeding. Having difficulties or inability to perform at least one activity was classified as having functional limitations. Social integration variables were: participation in community groups, clubs or organizations and in recreational activities. Adjustment variables were: sex, age, educational level, household income, depression, cognitive impairment and multimorbidity. Robust Poisson Regression was performed and prevalence ratios (PR) of functional limitation in ADL and IADL were reported. The level of significance was ≤0.5. Prevalence of functional limitations in ADL was 73.3% and in AIVD was 37.1%. Who participated in recreational activities have a lower prevalence of functional limitation in ADL (PR 0.85; 95%CI 0.80-0.90) and in IADL (PR 0.74; 95% CI0.63-0.86). Participation in community groups, clubs or organizations was associated with a lower prevalence of limitation in ADL (RP 0.78; 95%CI 0.71-0.87), although it was not significantly related to performance in IADL. Greater social integration in adulthood is a protective factor for limitation in ADL and IADL and should be the subject of public policies in Chile. Key messages Social integration seems to be a protective factor for functional limitation in Chilean older adults. Society and public policies should give greater opportunity for the elderly to participate in recreational activities and community groups.

scholarly journals Mental health crisis resolution teams and crisis care systems in England: a national survey

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 146-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brynmor Lloyd-Evans ◽  
Danielle Lamb ◽  
Joseph Barnby ◽  
Michelle Eskinazi ◽  
Amelia Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Crisis Resolution ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Crisis Resolution Teams ◽  
Crisis Care

Aims and methodA national survey investigated the implementation of mental health crisis resolution teams (CRTs) in England. CRTs were mapped and team managers completed an online survey.ResultsNinety-five per cent of mapped CRTs (n = 233) completed the survey. Few CRTs adhered fully to national policy guidelines. CRT implementation and local acute care system contexts varied substantially. Access to CRTs for working-age adults appears to have improved, compared with a similar survey in 2012, despite no evidence of higher staffing levels. Specialist CRTs for children and for older adults with dementia have been implemented in some areas but are uncommon.Clinical implicationsA national mandate and policy guidelines have been insufficient to implement CRTs fully as planned. Programmes to support adherence to the CRT model and CRT service improvement are required. Clearer policy guidance is needed on requirements for crisis care for young people and older adults.Declaration of interestNone.

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