The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH) has just released its newest resource for health educators and trainers, Caring for Older Adults in Disasters:  A Curriculum for Health Professionals.

Developed through the support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Caring for Older Adults in Disasters (COAD) curriculum is comprised of 24 lessons in 7 modules covering topics ranging from special considerations for older adults in specific types of disasters to ethical and legal issues related to the care of the senior population during a disaster. 

The COAD curriculum’s lessons range from 30 to 120 minutes in length based on the particular learning context. They include suggested learning activities for educators to engage their learners, as well as required and supplemental readings for both learners and educators. The curriculum can be used in its entirety, teaching all lessons in the order provided, or trainers may select individual lessons or portions of lessons most relevant to their learners. The curriculum’s material can be adapted to best meet a specific setting and learner needs by substituting resources, modifying activities, or augmenting content.