(P1-58) Frailty, Dementia and Disaster: An E-Learning Initiative for Health Care Providers

Abstract

Frailty, Dementia and Disaster: an e-learning initiative for Health care providers D. Maltais¹, M. Gibson², L. Hardy³, S. Ruthe⁴, ¹University of Quebec, Chicoutimi ²St. Joseph's Health Care London, London ³Health and Social Services, Yukon Territory Government, Whitehorse ⁴Emergency Program, Corporation of the District of Oak Bay, Victoria, Canada.

This poster describes the development, piloting, evaluation, and dissemination of the e-learning tool: “Frailty, Dementia and Disasters: What Health Care Providers Need to Know”. The purpose of the e-learning tool is to contribute to international efforts to reduce the disproportionate vulnerability of older adults in emergencies and disasters. Key literature on geriatric emergency preparedness and response issues, including the roles and responsibilities of health care providers, was identified and synthesized. Content was piloted in a facilitated workshop in Ontario. A Canada-wide health provider reference group provided feedback on the transition from a traditional powerpoint presentation to an e-learning format. The evaluation process included facilitated review of the tool by health care providers in two in-person workshops in each of Yukon and Quebec and in an independent review by health care providers in British Columbia (virtual). The learning objectives of the e-learning resource are to help health care providers, administrators and policy makers understand the: · disproportionate vulnerability of older adults who are frail and those who have dementia, in emergencies and disasters; · components of the emergency management cycle and how they apply to this target population; · best practice resources that can be used to improve emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation; and · role of health care organizations and providers in emergency management for these older adults. The e-Learning tool is hosted with open access on www.dementiaknowledgebroker.ca (DKB), a platform facilitated by the CDRAKE - the knowledge exchange theme of the Canadian Dementia Knowledge TranslationNetwork (CDKTN).