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Addressing the Access and Functional Needs of At-Risk Individuals

At-risk individuals are people with access and functional needs (temporary or permanent) that may interfere with their ability to access or receive medical care before, during, or after a disaster or public health emergency. 

Examples of at-risk populations may include but are not limited to children, pregnant women, older adults, people with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, people with limited access to transportation, people with limited access to financial resources, people experiencing homelessness, people who have chronic health conditions, and people who have pharmacological dependency.

  • Capacity-Building Toolkit for including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning: Older adults and people with disabilities are better able to remain in their homes and live independently, thanks in part to the work of Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Many disasters and emergencies disproportionately impact older adults and people with disabilities. This toolkit guides CBOs in planning to address the access and functional needs of older adults and people with disabilities by providing resources and recommendations, along with planning worksheets and templates that can be tailored to the CBO's mission and the specific needs of the communities they serve. Additionally, public health and emergency management professionals can use the toolkit to learn how to partner with CBOs that serve older adults and people with disabilities to address emergency planning, response, recovery, and mitigation. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Working with Older Adults and People with Disabilities: Tips for Treatment and Discharge Planning ( PDF) (Spanish): Understanding how to interact with community-dwelling older adults and people with disabilities includes recognizing the importance of individuals self-determination and independence. While some individuals may require additional medical support during an emergency, this resource explains the importance of ensuring that older adults and people with disabilities return to the least restrictive environment following discharge from medical care. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Addressing the Need of Older Adults in Disasters Web Based Training: By the year 2035, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than under the age of 18. Many disasters and public health emergencies disproportionately impact older adult populations, especially those ages 85 and older. This course is designed to improve the capabilities of public health and medical professionals to address the access and functional needs of community-dwelling older adults in disasters. Public health and medical responders can use the information, resources, tools, and strategies from this free, online training to address the needs of older adults during in common emergency situations including natural disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Disaster Preparedness Planning for Older Adults: Disasters can be particularly disruptive to the daily living of older adults and their caregivers. This compendium of resources includes material from federal and national organizations on addressing the need of older adults in public health emergencies and disasters. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Population-Specific Resources: Older Adults (General): ASPR TRACIE's collection of resources for health care providers who work with older adults during disasters covers general care as well as specific resources for those with dementia, chronic illnesses, PTSD, diabetes, and those in nursing homes.

  • Personal Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities: Sheltering in Place and Evacuation: This fact sheet contains information and a check list for emergency planning in the event of evacuation or sheltering in place. Created for families and individuals with disabilities, it promotes personal preparedness by describing emergency planning activities as well as the critical items and information for building an emergency "go-kit." (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Exercise Requirements for an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness Rule requires intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to conduct exercises. This resource from ASPR TRACIE provides an overview of the scope and frequency of exercise requirements, including a series of related resources to help with exercise planning.

  • Understanding How to Accommodate Service Animals in Healthcare Facilities: This fact sheet provides an overview of policy guidance to help health care professionals accommodate people with service animals. Find out about requirements and limitations – the dos and don'ts - of interacting with individuals with disabilities with service animals. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Planning Considerations for the Extremely Obese for Disasters and Public Health Emergencies: This fact sheet provides details on health consider for individuals who are extremely obese and includes planning considerations for public health emergencies and disasters. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • HHS Maternal-Child Health Emergency Planning Toolkit: Designed to improve the capacity of health care, public health, and social services professionals and emergency managers in addressing the needs of women who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or lactating and typically developing infants and young children, this toolkit outlines basic planning steps, highlights key resources and promising practices, and explains data and information to be integrated into emergency planning for maternal-child health (MCH) population. It includes modules on preparedness, response, and recovery planning, and a module with case studies covering four emergency scenarios. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • HHS Child and Adolescent Health Emergency Planning Toolkit: Designed to improve the capacity of health care, public health, and social services professionals and emergency managers in addressing the needs of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) in emergency preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and community resilience activities. This toolkit outlines basic planning steps, highlights key resources and promising practices, and explains data and information to be integrated into emergency planning for CYSHCN. It includes modules on preparedness, response, and recovery planning, and a module with case studies covering three emergency scenarios. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Population-Specific Resources: Maternal-Child Health Issues: Women who are pregnant, postpartum and/or lactating and infants have unique needs during and after disasters. This ASPR TRACIE resource collection focuses on maternal-child health, detailing the needs of both infants and mothers.

  • Support for Pregnant Survivors of Abuse or Rape during Disasters: A Resource for First Responders (Spanish): Intimate partner violence is more common than any other health problem that affects women during pregnancy and the risk of intimate partner violence increases during an emergency. Developed by the At-Risk Individuals Program, Office on Women's Health (OWH), and Administration for Children and Families (ACF), this fact sheet is designed to aid first responders in recognizing and referring pregnant survivors of abuse for services during an emergency. It provides strategies and information providers can use to refer survivors of intimate partner violence to resources and services. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • The Role of Healthcare Providers in Combatting Human Trafficking during Disasters: Health care providers can play a crucial role in preventing human trafficking, especially during and after emergencies. This page provides resources to help providers identify signs of human trafficking, understand the correlation between trafficking and disasters, and learn what to do if you suspect one of your patients is a victim of human trafficking.

  • Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate (CLAS) in Maternal Health Care: This free e-learning program from the Office of Minority Health HHS designed for maternal health care providers and students who wish to increase their cultural competency and ability to offer person-centered care, and combat implicit bias across the maternal health care field. It focuses on the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards and awareness of self and patients . (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Hurricane Response - Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Children and youth with special health care needs include those at increased risk for chronic physical, neurological, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions who require health and social services related services beyond those required by children or youth typically. This resource compendium developed by ASPR's At-Risk Individuals Program and HRSA's Maternal-Child Health Bureau contains resources that families, organizations, and clinicians providing care can use to help meet the needs of children and youth with special health care needs and their families during and after disasters and emergencies. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Homelessness Emergency Planning Toolkit: Disaster Preparedness to Promote Community Resilience, Information and Tools for Homeless Serving Providers and Disaster Professionals: Individuals and families experiencing homelessness are some of the most underserved members of our society and they are often disproportionately impacted by disasters and emergencies. This toolkit from the Departments of Veteran's Affairs, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development is designed to help homeless service providers address the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in emergencies. It includes three sections: 1) Creating and Inclusive Emergency Management Systems; 2) Guidance for Homeless Service Providers; and 3) Guidance for Health Care Providers. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Disaster Response for Homeless Individuals and Families: A Trauma-Informed Approach: People experiencing homelessness typically have limited resources and likely have past trauma, so they may be at a higher risk of an adverse physical or psychological reaction following a disaster. This fact sheet that provides information on planning for individuals and families experiencing homelessness during emergencies and understanding past trauma. (At-Risk Individuals Program)

  • Population-Specific Resources: People Experiencing Homelessness: This resource collection by ASPR TRACIE helps planners create disaster plans that consider the care homeless communities. This resource includes information from HHS, National Health Care for the Homeless, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mental and physical help are important for those experiencing homelessness.