december 2008
Newsworthy Items

New Online Offering from Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Training for the Long-Term
Care Workforce

By Theresa Sangram

The PREPARE program  is a nationally replicated train-the-trainer program that equips long-term care (LTC) and senior living (SL) staff with the skills needed to respond to public health emergencies and disasters. It was developed with funding from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Since 2006, this initiative has provided training for multiple disciplines of SL/LTC staff through onsite train-the-trainer workshops within 2000+ organizations in all 50 states. In 2007, the program was recognized for Innovation and Quality in Healthcare and Aging by the American Society on Aging. 

The SL and LTC industries have historically been deficient in adequately preparing more than 1.8 million health care providers, managers, and staff in dealing with disaster events. Our preliminary research indicates that 91% of SL/LTC administrators do not feel that their workforce was well-prepared for disasters and emergencies. PREPARE was designed to tackle this unmet need.

Key Program Objectives include:

  1. Increase the understanding of SL/LTC health professionals towards disaster/emergency preparedness education
  2. Increase the number of SL/LTC professionals who understand how to alert the public health system of a public health emergency
  3. Increase the number of SL/LTC residences that: forge collaborative relationships with key community stakeholders and groups in disaster planning; implement disaster response exercises or drills as part of their continuing quality improvement programs; and involve residents and families in emergency planning and education
  4. Share results of comprehensive evaluation of disaster preparedness planning within LTC communities

In response to PREPARE’s success as an onsite train-the-trainer program, we have expanded the program into a convenient e-learning environment. PREPARE Online is our new, eight-week online course that provides the benefits of online learning in an interactive classroom. Like our original train-the-trainer program, this new course will help long-term care providers recognize, respond to, and mitigate threats to their residents by providing tools for a coordinated approach to disaster preparedness. The tools and knowledge provided by PREPARE Online will enhance the ability of SL and LTC providers to more efficiently coordinate their disaster responses with local, state, and federal agencies.

Other training tools, such as the PREPARE Toolkit or the PREPARE Learning Modules Interactive Guide, are also available in Mather LifeWays online store. The PREPARE Toolkit includes the PREPARE Learning Modules training guide, self-study guide, CD-ROM of resources, CD-ROM containing Spanish translation of the self-study guide, customizable disaster plan template, and Incident Command Cards. The PREPARE Learning Modules Interactive Guide is a flexible and portable training guide designed for use in small groups centered on a table or workstation. One side of the book is designed for the student’s view and the other for instructors with tips and examples to hold the learner’s interest. 

PREPARE Online is a new addition to other Mather LifeWays online course offerings. Visit the Institute at http://www.matherlifeways.com/institute to see our full lineup of courses scheduled in 2009.

Like the new format? Tell us what you think: askaia@matherlifeways.com

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