Send us a text#111- Imagine being 85 or 95 years old, surviving a natural disaster like wildfires, hurricanes, or earthquakes, and facing the immense challenge of grieving your losses while navigating emotional and psychological recovery. Older adults often show remarkable resilience, but unique challenges like chronic health conditions, isolation, and cognitive vulnerabilities can complicate the recovery process.In this episode, I discuss how to support older adults following disasters, highlighting common reactions, risk factors, and effective strategies for fostering psychological recovery.Key TakeawaysCommon Reactions: Emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral responses older adults may experience after a disaster, and how these differ from typical stress reactions.Vulnerability Factors: Chronic health conditions, social isolation, and financial challenges that can exacerbate distress.Resilience in Older Adults: How past experiences often enhance older adults' ability to recover.Practical Strategies: Building trust, fostering community connections, accessing resources, and recognizing when professional mental health care is needed.Resources for Support: Key tools like SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline and local Area Agencies on Aging.Click here for the show notesResources MentionedTrauma-Informed Care with Older Adults GuideHelping Older Adults After Disasters: A Guide by SAMHSADifferentiating Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Unique Considerations for Older AdultsHelping Older Adults Prepare for Disasters: Essential Resources & TipsSAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990National Crisis Hotline for Mental Health: 988Find Your local Area Agency on AgingFREE RESOURCE If you’re supporting older adults recovering from a disaster, don’t forget to download my Trauma-Informed Care Guide for Older Adults. Together, we can provide the compassionate care older adults need to recover and thrive.Subscribe and Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a colleague or friend. Together, we can ensure older adults are included in the mental health conversation.Follow Dr. Regina Koepp on LinkedIn: Regina Koepp, Psy.D.It's only with your help that we can meet the mental health needs of older adults. So, thank you for being here and doing your part. Link to the show notes page here:  PROFESSIONALS: Grab your free guide to working with older adults here Attention Social Workers, Therapists, Counselors, Psychologists, Aging Life Care Experts... Click here to get Continuing Education Credits