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Disaster Mental Health Services Review of Care for Older Persons After Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2017

Allison Gibson ,
Jessica Walsh  and
Lisa M. Brown
Allison Gibson*
Affiliation:
College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Jessica Walsh
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California
Lisa M. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Allison Gibson, PhD, MSW, University of Kentucky, College of Social Work, 659 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY 40506 (e-mail: allison.gibson@uky.edu).
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Abstract

As older persons make up an ever greater proportion of the world’s population, a range of concerns are being voiced by policy-makers, program managers, and care providers about best or optimal practices for serving this population’s needs during all stages of disasters. Given that age-related vulnerabilities are common in late life, this article describes existing systems of care in the United States for the provision of disaster mental health services. Second, it evaluates the evidence for disaster treatment interventions with this subgroup of the population. Third, it synthesizes the findings of recent studies focusing on screening, assessment, and treatment approaches. To advance our current system of care and to adequately respond to the mental health needs of older persons, it is advantageous to periodically review progress, identify current gaps and unmet needs, and describe opportunities for improvement. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 366–372)

Keywords

disaster responseagingdisastersdisaster intervention
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , pp. 366 - 372
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

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