WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT & PURPOSE?

• The mission of Disaster Readiness in Place program is to support safe aging in place by increasing disaster preparedness in the older adult population in Sonoma County. The program aims to prepare volunteers to work with older adults and their caregivers on disaster preparedness.

• To prepare volunteers, we have created a training module for Council on Aging (COA) staff in Sonoma County. Our purpose is to ensure that older adults and/or their caregivers feel more confident about their ability to navigate disaster situations and that volunteers come away from training feeling more confident about their ability to work with families to address disaster preparedness.

• We have created a training module along with other additional resources for the COA staff that will assist in working with older adults who may have a variety of physical, cognitive, visual, and cultural needs. The safety of older adults before, during, and after a natural disaster is our top priority.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS ?

• As occupational therapy students at Dominican University of California (DUC) we are well versed on the value of occupational therapy in the lives of older adults.

• Occupational therapy is a holistic practice and is well equipped to address the complex needs of older adults regarding disaster preparedness.

• Our knowledge of the cognitive, physical, and visual conditions that impact the older adult population combined with our ability to problem-solve, recommend home and environmental modifications geared toward specific conditions, and consider cultural factors such as language, allows for the creation of a comprehensive Disaster Readiness in Place training for the COA staff in Sonoma County.

• Our hope is that the Disaster Readiness in Place training module will be used as a resource to inform future COA staff training sessions.