Older adults and people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by all types of disasters. Disabled people and older adults may not be able to evacuate, access shelters, and receive information in accessible formats. They may lose critical home and community-based services and be unnecessarily forced into institutional settings (such as nursing homes), or even experience higher fatality rates. Those who are living with dementia-related health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, may also experience extra risk.
Older adults and people with disabilities also often face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas.
Extreme weather-related events appear to be increasing in scope and duration. In June of 2023 alone, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported record breaking temperatures in excess of 100 degrees across the U.S., severe thunderstorms and flooding events, and air quality alerts from wildfire smoke that impacted more than 100 million people across 16 states. The recent wildfire in Maui and hurricane in southern California are recent examples.
This makes emergency preparedness even more important for older adults and people with disabilities and makes it critical for the needs of disabled people and older adults to be included in emergency planning.
Factors that may impact emergency preparedness and response for older adults and people with disabilities include:
- A greater prevalence of chronic conditions, cognitive impairment, and medication concerns during disasters.
- Needing additional supports (from caregivers or others) and use of assistive devices (such as oxygen, CPAP, cane, glasses, hearing aids, walker, and/or wheelchair).
- Potential for social isolation.
- Gaps in preparedness of caregivers.
Disaster planning, response, and recovery is a top priority for ACL and we are working with FEMA and other partners across federal government, as well as with our networks, to make it more responsive to the needs of older adults, disabled people, and caregivers.
ACL subject matter experts on the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters (NACSD) and the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD), provide expertise to non-federal members who help evaluate issues and programs, and provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS to enhance preparedness.
Planning Tools
ACL.gov has useful preparedness resources including preparedness checklists and important hotline numbers for older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and the organizations that work with them. Ready.gov provides guidance specifically for these populations as well. FEMA and AARP have also released a Disaster Resilience Toolkit that provides guidance for local leaders on how to reduce risk and better prepare older adults for natural disasters.
Ready.gov also provides resources to prepare for specific types of emergencies, such as extreme heat, wildfires, hurricanes, and winter weather. These can include:
- Extreme Heat: Avoid staying home alone during summer power outages or, if air conditioning is not available in your home, during an extreme heat event. The Eldercare Locator website or hotline can help you identify your local area agency on aging, which can provide you with more information about local cooling centers and community resources near you.
- Wildfires: Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home.
- Hurricanes: Know your evacuation zone, practice your route, and identify where you will go if necessary; make sure your cell phone is fully charged when a hurricane is forecasted, and consider purchasing backup charging devices.
- Winter Weather: Keep out the cold by using insulation, caulking, and weather stripping.
- General Emergency Preparedness Tips:
- Create an emergency communications plan.
- Make sure your important documents (insurance, personal documents, ID) are up to date.
- Build your emergency supply kit.
For people living with dementia and their caregivers, the National Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center is a great resource and has an Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for People Living with Dementia to help people living with dementia, their family members, and their caregivers understand what to expect in the event of an emergency and how to prepare for one. The toolkit is made up of seven tip sheets and checklists for persons living with dementia, their families, and others who interact with them.
It is important that older adults, disabled people, and caregivers prepare for disasters and emergencies by knowing their risks, making a plan, and taking action to mitigate those risks.