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Preparing for a natural disaster with your friends, family, and community can help strengthen your plans and improve everyone’s resilience and preparedness. Take some time to learn about programs that can help you during and after a disaster as well.
It’s important to talk with and support the older adults in your life in developing an emergency plan, especially if they rely on you for navigating resources or the community. Consider things like mobility and cognition in developing your plans together. It’s okay to talk about fears or worries, and this is a good way to work toward even better solutions.
Here are other things you can do with your older adult family member to get prepared:
- Help them sign up for emergency alerts
- Learn about your state’s emergency prescription refill law and how it can help you prepare.
- See if you are eligible to receive a free air conditioning unit through Care Oregon or Oregon Health Authority.
- Read about and prepare for mental health needs during and after a disaster.
Experiencing a disaster can negatively impact the mental health of everyone involved, but age-related vulnerabilities increase the risk of having symptoms of post traumatic stress, anxiety and depression for older adults. Minimize risk after exposure by supporting your community as a trained Psychological First Aider: https://learn.nctsn.org/course/index.php?categoryid=11
If you are an older adult and need help during a disaster, you can contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 855-673-2372. You will be connected with an information and assistance specialist in your area who is specially trained to help you find and navigate resources and refer you to services.