Marymount College
PALOS VERDES – SAN PEDRO Comprehensive Age Planning
Presented by Katherine Campbell, J.D., LLM March 14, 2013 Disaster Plan for Older Adults
“In Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina, roughly 71 percent of the victims were older than 60 and 47 percent were over the age of 75. There is truly a need to plan and accommodate all Americans during emergencies, particularly older Americans.”
— Christopher Hansen, AARP Group Executive Officer
Consider at least a two-week supply of medications in original packaging Since insurance companies usually won't pay for more than a 30-day supply, consider asking your doctor for an extra prescription, and paying for it out-of-pocket. Another option: fill prescriptions a week early each month until you have at least a 2-week supply for emergencies. Keep the original packaging: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some pharmacies were dispensing medications without prescriptions to those who had the original bottle or box. Note: As an added precaution, ask your doctor what you should do if your emergency supply doesn't last though an emergency, gets lost or, say, damaged by heat or water. Ask, for example, if you can stretch out the supply of some medications by skipping every other dose, or cutting pills in half. This may or may not be advisable/ consult with your doctor. Medical equipment include blood sugar monitoring equipment, a blood pressure cuff, hearing aid batteries and any other devices you or loved ones use regularly. Written information about treatment. Ask your doctor for copies of your medical records and lists of: any medical problems you have and how they're being treated; the names (including generic names) of any drugs you're taking and the doses. Known comfort routines to assist elderly or disabled individuals who may become disoriented or agitated in the event of a disaster. If you have an elderly or disabled loved one, carry extra copies of his or her medical and Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance information, along with copies of advance directive or health care power of attorney with you. Information compiled from: Bandos, Diaster Plan for Older Adults, FEMA or Red Cross, Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities AGS, American Geriatric Society Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults CDC’s Disaster Planning Goal: Protect Vulnerable Older Adults |