TY - JOUR
T1 - Using the Law to Promote the Mental Health of Older Adults during Disasters
AU - Rutkow, Lainie
AU - Vernick, Jon S.
AU - Spira, Adam P.
AU - Barnett, Daniel J.
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Disasters may disproportionately impact older adults due to sensory deficits, diminished social support networks, financial limitations, and displacement from familiar environments. During and shortly after a disaster, older adults' mental health needs may be overlooked for varied reasons, including concerns about stigma and lack of information about available services. Law can protect the mental health of older adults in disaster and non-disaster circumstances, but it sometimes may frustrate efforts to address older adults' mental health concerns. This article analyzes three areas - Medicare services, staffing shortages, and continuity of prescription medications - in which the law has the potential to promote the mental health of older adults during disasters.
AB - Disasters may disproportionately impact older adults due to sensory deficits, diminished social support networks, financial limitations, and displacement from familiar environments. During and shortly after a disaster, older adults' mental health needs may be overlooked for varied reasons, including concerns about stigma and lack of information about available services. Law can protect the mental health of older adults in disaster and non-disaster circumstances, but it sometimes may frustrate efforts to address older adults' mental health concerns. This article analyzes three areas - Medicare services, staffing shortages, and continuity of prescription medications - in which the law has the potential to promote the mental health of older adults during disasters.
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U2 - 10.1111/jlme.12046
DO - 10.1111/jlme.12046
M3 - Article
C2 - 23590748
AN - SCOPUS:84876990672
SN - 1073-1105
VL - 41
SP - 80
EP - 83
JO - Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics
JF - Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -