Spring Grove, PA – Today, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, in conjunction with the York County Office of Emergency Management visited Windy Hill on the Campus Senior Center to discuss preparedness activities for older Pennsylvanians. The visit was part of a workshop designed to help older adults create an emergency plan. The “Preparing Together – Are You Ready PA?" program provides resources available to senior centers and other organizations across the Commonwealth.
“Personal preparedness is the key to readiness when dealing with disasters that affect your home or family," said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Everyone's situation is different, but it's critical that we provide the training and resources for every resident to be prepared. The information and resources used in today's presentation were developed with older Pennsylvanians in mind."
Promoting and improving the health, well-being and quality of life for older Pennsylvanians as they age was the driving force behind the Shapiro Administration's Aging Our Way, PA, a 10-year strategic plan to build more inclusive, supportive communities for older Pennsylvanians, and that includes helping them to prepare for emergencies by expanding awareness among older adults and caregivers of protocols for emergency communication.
A study led by PEMA shows 74% of older Pennsylvanians do not have an emergency plan. Therefore, many family members, friends, and neighbors may not be prepared to act when a disaster occurs and may not know how to respond and recover. Developing a plan helps prepare, including having methods to communicate to family and friends for any assistance that may be needed.
“When an emergency occurs and older adults must evacuate their homes, seconds count for them and their loved ones to get to a safe place. There won't be time for them to gather crucial items such as medication and food, so it's important for older adults to plan now so they don't waste precious time getting to safety," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “This month, we have a great opportunity to support older adults on being prepared by reviewing their plan and other emergency preparations. If they don't have a plan in place, we encourage them to meet with their family and friends and discuss what steps they should put in place should they need to leave their home in the event of an emergency."
Pennsylvania is currently home to over 3.5 million individuals who are age 65 or older, and the Commonwealth's fastest growing demographic is those who are age 85 and older. While older Pennsylvanians have many of the same needs as others, they often face additional challenges including reliance on medical equipment, accessibility and mobility issues, and access to needed prescription medication.
September is National Preparedness Month and National Senior Center Month. All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to visit Ready PA to learn how to be informed, be prepared, and be involved. For more information on requesting a free virtual program delivery of “Preparing Together – Are Your Ready PA?" for your organization, visit the WITF Mind Matters website and fill out the form.