Training – Natural Disaster Awareness for Caregivers (AWR-308)

This course is being developed in order to help caregivers in both in-home and facility care arrangements better reduce the vulnerability and risk of senior citizens in their care, and to help caregivers plan and prepare for their disaster response requirements.

The course material will familiarize participants with the wide range of unique vulnerability factors associated with senior citizens in relation to disaster events, and explain the dynamics behind how each of these vulnerabilities affects the ability of senior citizens to take more effective risk reduction and hazard preparedness actions (and to otherwise survive disaster events). Participants will be introduced to the full range of hazards that typically lead to major disasters. Participants will also learn how to identify potential hazards and discover different solutions that may be taken to address these risks. Caregivers will also learn about senior citizen social networks, vulnerabilities, and how to build disaster resilience. Finally, an emphasis on conveying basic risk communication with senior citizens will be discussed.

Objectives:

State course goals and major module objectives

Explain how senior care providers can identify the natural hazards that may affect an eldercare facility or home and how risks associated with hazards are identified and may be minimized

Describe the constraints and vulnerability factors associated with senior citizens

Apply their knowledge of materials covered in Modules 2 and 3 for at-risk senior citizens and their caregivers impacted by either a tsunami, hurricane, or tornado through taking part in an in-class practical exercise scenario