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Long-Term Care Facilities: Challenges and Technology

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Disaster Preparedness for Seniors

Abstract

As the frequency and intensity of disaster events increase around the globe, older adults who reside in long-term care (LTC) facilities are among those most at risk for the negative effects of these events. The residents of these facilities are physically and psychologically vulnerable to injury, illness, and death, and often experience disruptions in their care needs as a result of disasters. Yet it has also been reported that LTC facilities received notably less support than did hospitals from federal, state, and local response agencies during and after disasters. People with disabilities are poorly represented in disaster management planning. This is significant in context of the older adult population of LTC facilities, the majority of which have physical and/or mental disabilities.

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Correspondence to Sandra P. Hirst R.N., Ph.D., G.N.C.(C) .

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Hirst, S.P. (2014). Long-Term Care Facilities: Challenges and Technology. In: Cefalu, C. (eds) Disaster Preparedness for Seniors. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0665-9_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0665-9_10

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