What Will You Learn?

PREPARE Specialists leave the workshop with:

• Trainer Guide for eight learning modules
• CD-ROM of resources and templates
• Comprehensive handouts
• Certificates of completion
• Access to PREPARE specialist webpage
• DVDs with videos of selected modules
• Spanish versions
• Continuing education units
• A self-study version of the modules to allow for flexibility in training

Description: Older adults face unique challenges such as mobility, health issues, culture and language barriers, medications, and difficulty in contacting family members. This module discusses special concerns that arise when caring for older adults in a disaster or emergency situation. In addition, strategies for dealing with this population's particular needs are outlined. Lastly, the module addresses seniors' own concerns regarding disasters and emergency situations, and identifies agencies that can provide additional support.

Objectives:

1. Describe 12 key areas of special consideration impacting older adults' responses to disaster/emergency situations.
2. Identify strategies for addressing special considerations for older adults' responses to disaster/emergency situations.
3. Discuss concerns of long-term care residents in disaster/emergency situations
4. Identify national, state, and local agencies responsible for aging issues and services that may provide resources to long-term care communities in the event of disaster situations.

Description: In order to provide the best care, it is necessary to understand the unique psychological effects of disasters and emergencies on older adults and be prepared to provide support and/or interventions to ease the trauma for this at-risk population. This module discusses issues such as identifying depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and provides mental health resources for long-term care staff.

Objectives:

1. Describe the psychological effects of disasters or emergencies on older adults.
2. Discuss interventions/social support resources for long-term care communities in event of a disaster or emergency.
3. Identify signs and symptoms of PTSD in older adults.
4. Differentiate between normal/abnormal reactions to terrorism threats/events and PTSD by elders.
5. Understand the impact of disasters or emergencies on older adults with pre-existing mental health problems (e.g., anxiety disorders, depression, confusion, dementia).
6. Identify mental health resources available to long-term care residents and workforce post-terrorist event.

Description: The older adult population is at greater risk during a BT event for several reasons. Difficulty in diagnosis, lack of tested treatments, and complications caused by co-morbid conditions are some of the many causes for concern. This module discusses how health care providers can deal with these challenges in the face of a biological or chemical attack. Symptoms, diagnosis in older adults, and treatment are discussed.

Objectives:

1. Identify Type A biological agents and diseases they cause.
2. Understand the five types of chemical agents commonly identified with terrorist events.
3. Understand how normal aging masks tell-tale signs and symptoms associated with biological or chemical agents.
4. Examine the potential impact of an outbreak involving Type A biological agents in a LTC community and the role of public health agencies in management.
5. Describe the risk of a pandemic flu, important facts and what long-term care can do to prepare.

Description: Being able to lead others is critical at all phases of a disaster or emergency. In addition, communication is an essential skill for those involved in disaster response and recovery. This module provides information and activities designed to improve leadership and communications skills during times of crisis.

Objectives:

1. Discuss the unique demands on long-term care administrators and managers during an emergency.
2. Identify strategies for leadership during these emergency or disaster events.
3. Examine qualities that enhance leadership ability during an emergency or disaster event.
4. Participate in exercises designed to improve leadership and communications skills.

Description: Long-term care communities have important responsibilities in regard to surveillance and communication during a possible disaster/emergency. In addition, healthcare providers must understand how infectious disease is transmitted and its effects on the older adult. In the context of these issues, participants will be given the necessary information and resources to review their own emergency plans and protocols.

1. Identify national and local surveillance systems that may assist long-term care communities with early recognition and detection of disasters or BT events.
2. Understand the major routes and infectious disease transmission/surveillance related to elderly.
3. Review current emergency system within own community emphasizing rapid response at all levels.

Description: This module provides information necessary for long-term care communities to establish protocols for workforce education and to master key technical skills needed in an emergency or disaster situation. Four tabletop exercises are included to enable long-term care communities to identify weaknesses in existing disaster/emergency plans.

Objectives:

1. Establish protocols for long-term care workforce education.
2. Master the technical skills related to resident care in a disaster/emergency event including triage, decontamination, containment, and treatment.
3. Practice emergency response procedures from a multidisciplinary approach.
4. Utilize evaluation process/procedures to conduct "After Action Conference."

Description: In times of disaster, long-term care communities can improve their ability to respond to and recover from an event by understanding the resources that are available to them. This module assists the long-term care community staff in identifying methods for establishing community support, before, during and after a disaster or emergency.

Objectives:

1. Identify community assets/resources necessary for ongoing essential care to long-term care residents during disaster/emergency situations.
2. Develop plan to secure local volunteers to assist long-term care residents and staff in emergency situations.
3. Build collaborations between long-term care communities and key community stakeholders.
4. Understand the overall purpose of the federal disaster plans (i.e., the National Response Plan, the Interim National Preparedness Goal and the National Incident Management System) in relation to building capabilities of long-term care communities to collaborate with national, state, and local preparedness agencies.
5. Identify application of all-hazards preparedness prevention for long-term care communities.

Description: Module 8 outlines the components of a disaster plan. Included are guidelines for determining roles and responsibilities of staff, addressing security issues, performing a vulnerability assessment, and addressing surge capacity issues. In addition, methods for communicating and regularly updating a facility's disaster/emergency preparedness plan are described.

Objectives:

1. Describe key components of effective disaster/emergency preparedness plan for long-term care communities.
2. Integrate emergency preparedness strategies into existing disaster plans for long-term care communities.
3. Perform a vulnerability analysis of the long-term care community.
4. Understand special needs of residents residing in long-term care communities affected by disaster or emergency situations.
5. Develop mechanisms to communicate and update the disaster/emergency preparedness plan on a regular basis in the long-term care community.

Description: One of the challenges of any disaster or emergency as it concerns long-term care communities is the ability to retain staff throughout the disaster event. Staff members who are needed on-site often rush home out of concern for the safety of their home or family. This module offers strategies to address that problem by providing guidelines and tools to help families of long-term care residents and staff prepare for disasters and emergencies. It may be taught in a classroom environment or distributed as a resource to staff.

Objectives:

1. Describe phases of a disaster
2. Understand elements of basic disaster/emergency preparedness in the home.
3. Develop a basic disaster/emergency preparedness plan for the home.