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Disaster Health Competencies and Their Application: Caring for Seniors

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Disaster Preparedness for Seniors

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Abstract

Disaster medicine and public health (disaster health) competencies are presented from a broad and inclusive perspective for all health professions. Concepts presented include the all-hazards approach, key competency audiences (educators and lifelong learners), linkages to national frameworks and goals, a detailed description of current core competencies, contextual proficiency variations, and considerations for access and functional needs populations. The absence of reference to disaster health competencies in existing geriatric competencies is highlighted with concern. A potential strength in the disaster context is the routine biopsychosocial approach inherent in caring for Seniors. To engage the learner, a series of seven questions cross-referenced to the core competencies is offered as a means to assist health professionals and systems in becoming better able to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. A more detailed discussion of the questions, with linkages to the geriatric disaster context, is offered.

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The views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, The Department of Defense or the United States Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 11300 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Kenneth Schor D.O., M.P.H., F.A.A.F.P.

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  1. Kenneth Schor D.O., M.P.H., F.A.A.F.P.
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Correspondence to Kenneth Schor D.O., M.P.H., F.A.A.F.P. .

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  1. School of Medicine, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Charles A. Cefalu

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Schor, K. (2014). Disaster Health Competencies and Their Application: Caring for Seniors. In: Cefalu, C. (eds) Disaster Preparedness for Seniors. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0665-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0665-9_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0664-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0665-9

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