CNE Activity

Disaster Strikes! Long-Term Care Resident Outcomes Following a Natural Disaster

Pamela Z. Cacchione, PhD, APRN, BC; Lisa M. Willoughby, PhD; Joanne C. Langan, PhD, RN; Kennith Culp, PhD, RN

  • Journal of Gerontological Nursing
  • September 2011 - Volume 37 · Issue 9: 16-27
  • DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20110810-50
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Abstract

This report describes the outcomes of 17 long-term care residents who were participating in a nursing intervention study. The residents were evacuated for 5 days due to a severe summer storm that caused widespread power outages. These residents were seen the day of the storm and three times per week for 2 weeks following their return to the nursing home. More than half of the participants had significant changes in their NEECHAM Confusion Scale scores (n = 11) and modified Confusion Assessment Method scores (n = 9) scores, suggesting the onset of delirium. Two participants were hospitalized within the 2 weeks of the evacuation. One participant died unexpectedly. This report provides a rare look into the negative effects of a short-term evacuation due to a natural disaster.

AUTHORS

Dr. Cacchione is Associate Professor of Geropsychiatric Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dr. Willoughby is Assistant Professor of Psychology, Center for Outcomes Research, and Dr. Langan is Assistant Dean, Community and Clinical Affairs, and Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; and Dr. Culp is Professor, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa.

The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. This research was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research grant RO 1 NR08777-03. The authors thank the I-SEE Research team, especially Carol Galgani, MSN, RN, and Amy Sciorontino, MSN, RN, two research nurses who rode out the storm and followed the participants closely after they returned.

Address correspondence to Pamela Z. Cacchione, PhD, APRN, BC, Associate Professor of Geropsychiatric Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104; e-mail: .pamelaca@nursing.upenn.edu

doi: 10.3928/00989134-20110810-50

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