Participate in Research to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in Senior Living & Long-Term Care

By Cate O’Brien

Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, in partnership with Benten Technologies, is submitting several grant proposals to the National Institutes of Health to develop products that would enable SL and LTC organizations to provide better care for older adult residents in a disaster or emergency. If funded, the Institute would like to partner with such organizations to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of the products being developed.

The projects being submitted have the following goals:

Enable easier communication between SL/LTC staff and others involved in emergency response during the disaster
Enhance the ability for older adults to remain connected to family, friends, and important others before, during, and after a disaster
Provide SL/LTC staff a way to rapidly assess the mental health needs of older adults in their care
Reduce the negative mental health effects of disasters on older adults in SL/LTC settings

Role of the SL/LTC in the development process:
The Institute would like your input and feedback to ensure the products being developed are useful in SL and LTC settings. This may include:

completion of short surveys on SL/LTC needs, usability and value of tools being developed, etc.
participation in 1-2 focus groups at or near your location
participation in training to use the tool
willingness to pilot test the tool in your setting

Projects will begin in early 2010 to late 2010. A small honorarium will be paid to SL and LTC partners for their time.

To participate in or to learn more about our disaster preparedness research, please e-mail cobrien@matherlifeways.com or call (847) 492.6803.

Comments? Tell us what you think: askaia@matherlifeways.com