Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jun 18, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Jun 19, 2024 - Jul 17, 2024
Date Accepted: Sep 30, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Disaster Preparedness Intervention for Older Adults (Senior’s Positive Involvement in Community Emergencies SPICE): Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Older adults comprise a substantial proportion of the U.S. population requiring support during disaster events. Previous research demonstrates older adults are resilient but deficient in disaster preparedness and lacking in community engagement. There is a gap in high quality research in this area.
Objective:
Our study aims to fill this gap by developing a four phased intervention to improve mobility, balance and decrease fall risks (mitigation), increase knowledge of disaster preparedness (preparedness), improve community emergency operation plans (response), and improve self-efficacy in disaster recovery (recovery) for older adults.
Methods:
This is a community based ten-month study in a large Midwest urban/suburban location targeting community dwelling older adults. Seminars are provided to improve disaster preparedness and recovery planning. Mitigation efforts to improve mobility and safety are offered with ten visits to the older adult’s residences adapting physical activity and balance exercises to the individual’s needs. Emergency Operations Plans for two of the major cities will be reviewed and amended for specific functional needs and access guidelines. Measurements include accelerometers to assess improvement in mobility, fall risk assessments, an abbreviated FEMA Household Survey, Assessment for Disaster Engagement with Partners Tool, Brief Pain Inventory Assessment, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Overarching objectives prioritized during this intervention include underscoring respect for the experience and resilience found in older adults and engaging them in specialized roles supporting their communities during disaster events.
Results:
The intervention began November 2023 and will conclude October 2024. Published study results can be expected in early 2025.
Conclusions:
With improved disaster preparedness, mobility, recovery planning, and inclusion as a resource in community disasters, older adults are expected to be safer and able to age in place. If successful, future studies will focus on outreach and sustainability. This study will serve as a model for older adult disaster preparedness and community involvement.
Citation
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Copyright
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