Project Investigators Dr. Linda Schnitker (QUT)
Project Researchers Prof. Elizabeth Beattie (QUT), Dr. Elaine Fielding (QUT), Dr. Margaret MacAndrew (QUT), Dr David Lie, Prof Vivienne Tippett (QUT), Prof Gerry Fitzgerald (QUT) & Prof Lisa Brown (USA)
Development Team Deborah Brooks, Sara Baniahmadi
Year: July 1, 2016
Partners Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Program Overview:
Australia regularly experiences a range of natural disasters, including bushfires, floods, cyclones, and earthquakes. The Australian population is encouraged to prepare for natural disaster by developing emergency response plans. Accordingly, considerable investment has been made in recent years in attempts to educate and encourage families and communities to better prepare for, and respond to natural disasters. Older people, including those living with dementia, are vulnerable in times of natural disaster. However, less effort has been used on responding to the special challenges during natural disasters faced by carers of people living with dementia in the community.
People living with dementia and their carers have a number of additional challenges when confronted with an emergency situation, including the limited capacity of the person living with dementia to understand and cope with the sudden changes occasioned by emergencies. During these events, people with dementia have special needs, including improved identification (e.g. photos, identification bracelet if the person gets lost), prevention of wandering, the use appropriate communication skills (e.g. to help them remaining calm), and preparation of medical records in case nursing and medical care is required.
The predicted large increase in the number of people living with dementia in the coming decades coupled with the increasing frequency of natural disasters, meant it was timely that consideration be given to better understand the specific needs of people living with dementia in the community and their carers during disasters and emergencies. In response to these important issues, this project aimed to develop a disaster preparedness tool – the CaRed-Guide- that takes into account the challenge that Australian carers of people with dementia living in the community face when a natural disaster strikes.
This project consisted of three interconnected phases. The aim of the first phase was to be aware of relevant literature and practices related to disaster management of carers of people with dementia living in the community. Relevant literature and the research team’s skills and knowledge were converted into a draft CaRed-Guide. In the second phase the draft guide was further refined, customised and agreed on by an expert advisory group that included carers of people living with dementia in the community and emergency services workers.
A structured communication method was used to gather expert opinions about the drafted guide. In the end, a final CaRed-guide for carers of people living with dementia in the community was developed. The aim of the third phase was to create a clear implementation plan. The plan included strategies for successful implementation of the guide in Australian communities. For example, how to best reach the end users of the guide and encourage its use.
Findings from this research support carers of people with living with dementia in the community to prepare for potential natural disasters. It facilitates their capacity to prepare a family emergency plan that addresses the special needs of carers of people living with dementia and those depending on them in the event of a natural disaster.
See the Carer Ready Guide.