Johns Hopkins: Residents with Mental Illness Need Special Consideration During Disaster Preparation

In the wake of the tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri, many facilities are scrutinizing their own disaster preparedness plans. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics encourage facilities to take special precautions with residents who have mental illnesses.

Disasters can cause extreme emotional distress for residents with cognitive impairments and they might not be able to fully grasp the severity of the situation, so the researchers recommend that disaster-preparedness training includes advice on handling these residents in a way that still respects their dignity. It's also important that a plan is put in place for ensuring that residents who are on crucial medications can still receive them if a disaster erupts since withdrawal from certain medications can be deadly.

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