Silent Survivors of Disasters: Older Adults

At the site of any disaster, there are a multitude of survivors, the challenges of caring for them, and, frequently, not enough caretakers to meet their needs. One group that is often not planned for and whose needs are generally not well understood is the older population, particularly those in long-term living facilities. The purpose of this "The Dialogue" bulletin article is to look at this special-needs population and review some aspects of planning and response that will facilitate their proper care and treatment during and after disaster. The Dialogue A QUARTERLY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BULLETIN ON DISASTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Volume 5, Issue 1 2008 Table of Contents Ask the Field Tourists, Terrorism, and Disasters Silent Survivors of Disasters: Older Adults Survivor-to-Survivor Storytelling and Trauma Recovery A New Model for a Statewide Disaster Behavioral Health Response Plan Special Feature: The Americans with Disabilities Act and Disaster Response Recommended Reading Conference Highlights Upcoming Meetings Announcing SAMHSA’s eNetwork PDF Version