RESPONDING TO MAJOR DISASTERS: Mental Health Intervention for Older Adults

Mental health intervention is a crucial component of a disaster response and recovery program. A clinical response to crisis, disaster and trauma is important to provide counseling, debriefing, treatment and case management. The vulnerabilities experienced by older adults are likely to become exacerbated during times of disaster and during the recovery process. In fact, disaster mental health training literature classifies older adults as an "at-risk" group. This course will provide professionals with the knowledge and tools to appropriately respond to the needs of older adults in the time of crisis and disaster.