Improving emergency preparedness and response policies for older adults

Natural and human made disasters are increasingly important public health challenges. Growing global attention has focused on the emergency preparedness and response needs of potentially vulnerable populations, including older adults. In recent years, many U.S. policymakers have demonstrated a commitment to improving emergency preparedness and response policies focused on older adults. However, much can still be accomplished in the federal policy arena to ensure the health and well being of the rapidly growing and increasingly diverse aging population during disasters.

This presentation will provide an overview of federal public health policy issues related to older adults and disasters. Recently enacted federal legislation of relevance to the emergency preparedness and response needs of older adults will be discussed. Specifically, new additions to the Older Americans Act aimed at strengthening federal disaster preparedness efforts will be highlighted. In addition, new federal legislative proposals of significance to older adults will be identified. Further, the benefits of active public health community engagement in the federal aging and emergency preparedness and response policy debate will also be discussed.