12:06:11 PM Avagene Moore:Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! 12:06:25 PM Avagene Moore:Our topic today was chosen because May is "Older Americans Month." ... 12:06:39 PM chip hines:Hello to all. Its unusual for me to see another Cecil - thats my real name. 12:06:39 PM Avagene Moore:We have chosen panelists to discuss how disasters impact the elderly and why we should be concerned since we know that our population is rapidly aging. Our focus today involves the recent tornadoes that hit Nashville and other counties in Tennessee on April 16. ... 12:07:10 PM Avagene Moore:Before we introduce our panelists, a few words about the order of the day. ... 12:07:22 PM Avagene Moore:Please note that my dialogue is inserted in rather short segments with an ellipse (...) following to indicate there is more text coming. ... 12:07:46 PM Avagene Moore:Each speaker should do the same and ... 12:07:57 PM Avagene Moore:indicate a response or thought is complete with the appropriate punctuation, period, exclamation point, or question mark. ... 12:08:11 PM Avagene Moore:These are the only clues we have to avoid talking over someone who is speaking and trying to make a point. We want to be courteous and give everyone an opportunity to comment and ask questions. ... 12:08:22 PM Avagene Moore:Our session today is unmoderated. We ask you to hold your questions until the floor is opened to Q&A from the audience. ... 12:08:40 PM Avagene Moore:To keep order, please let me know you have a question by inputting a question mark (?) and sending it to the screen; compose your question and hold it until you are recognized. In this way, we can track our Q&A session in an orderly fashion. ... 12:08:51 PM Avagene Moore:It is my pleasure to introduce our speakers today (listed alphabetically) ... 12:09:06 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca C. Bundon, Associate State Representative, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Tennessee State Office; ... 12:09:48 PM Avagene Moore:Jan Weaver, PhD, RN, Associate Director of Education .... 12:09:59 PM Avagene Moore:Texas Institute for Research and Education on Aging, University of North Texas; and ... 12:10:09 PM Avagene Moore:Cecil H. Whaley, Director of Natural Hazards, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). ... 12:10:33 PM Avagene Moore:(we are still waiting on Cecil; trust he will be here shortly) 12:10:54 PM Avagene Moore:On behalf of the EIIP, we appreciate our speakers taking the time to discuss elderly issues related to disaster management in the Virtual Forum today. ... 12:11:22 PM Avagene Moore:Our first questions are to Jan Weaver. .... 12:11:33 PM Avagene Moore:This is Jan's second time as a speaker in the Virtual Forum. She graciously helped us out in a Round Table discussion in February. ... 12:12:14 PM Avagene Moore:Jan, please help us set the stage for our discussion by sharing some of the predictions of a rapidly aging population in America. 12:12:50 PM Jan Weaver:Thanks, Avagene--There are currently about 35 million people in the US population who are 65 and older (that represents 12.6% of the total population); This number will double by 2030.... 12:13:02 PM Jan Weaver:The number of 85+ individuals is the fastest growing segment of the older population; the 85+ population will triple in size between 1980 and 2030.... 12:13:23 PM Jan Weaver:The "graying of America" represents a population shift since the turn of the century--In 1900, the average life span was 47 years and less than 4% of the population was 65+.... 12:13:53 PM Jan Weaver:People under age 18 made up 40% of the population at the turn of the century.... 12:14:13 PM Jan Weaver:By 2030, there will be proportionately more older than younger people in the population (22% will be 65+ and 21% will be under 18). 12:14:29 PM Avagene Moore:How should we, as the emergency management community, respond to these statistics? 12:15:03 PM Jan Weaver:More than 70% of older people view their health as good.... 12:15:42 PM Jan Weaver:About 20% of older people are functionally impaired due to chronic health problems.... 12:16:05 PM Jan Weaver:Implications of these statistics include: (1)there will be a greater number of people in the population who need special assistance; and (2) there will also be a greater number of people in the population that will volunteer in disaster planning and preparation.... 12:16:30 PM Jan Weaver:In other words, if 20% of all people 65+ are functionally impaired, that means that the other 80% are healthy and active.... 12:16:53 PM Jan Weaver:Thus, the older population represents a valuable and growing resource in times of disaster. 12:17:08 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Jan. Those are very interesting statistics and implications for the future. ... 12:18:00 PM Avagene Moore:We are still having trouble getting Cecil into this room.... 12:18:19 PM Avagene Moore:We will move to our other speakers now who were in one way or another involved in the tornadoes that recently struck Tennessee. ... 12:18:33 PM Avagene Moore:We hope the Q&A session that follows will provide opportunity to address more of the implications of our aging population as we look to the future of this business. ... 12:19:02 PM Avagene Moore:To facilitate our session, I will move to questions to Rebecca Bundon, TN AARP. ... 12:19:21 PM Avagene Moore:We will come back to Cecil a little later. ... 12:19:39 PM Avagene Moore: Rebecca, briefly explain the types of issues addressed by the AARP, please. There may be some in our audience not familiar with your organization. 12:20:07 PM Rebecca Bundon:AARP?s national focus for the next few years is on maintaining the solvency of Social Security and Medicare and educating the public on the value of these systems; educating the public on Consumer issues (particularly telemarketing fraud); addressing issues relating to Managed Care; and encouraging people to save and plan for their financial future. AARP TN will continue to focus on getting funding for Home and Community Based Services for Long Term Care. These issues are in addition to our l 12:21:03 PM Avagene Moore:(Part of your last statement was cut off, Rebecca. Would you like to complete the thought please?) 12:21:50 PM Rebecca Bundon:These issues are in addition to our long- term programs of 55-Alive Safe Driving Classes, Tax Assistance for older individuals, Widowed Persons Services, Health Advocacy and Economic Security information. 12:22:00 PM Avagene Moore: How does the AARP relate to disaster/emergency management issues that impact older Americans? 12:22:27 PM Rebecca Bundon:AARP has not officially adopted emergency management as an issue or program; however, we have responded to several disasters in the past 40 years with assistance from local communities and many of our members have offered individual assistance with clean-up efforts. 12:22:53 PM Avagene Moore:In your opinion, what can the AARP do to make older Americans more aware of the importance of disaster preparedness? 12:23:54 PM Rebecca Bundon:AARP?s membership nationwide is approximately 30 million and in Tennessee we have approximately 560,000 members. Our national magazine, Modern Maturity, reaches every membership household and could include an article on preparing for disasters... 12:24:10 PM Rebecca Bundon:In addition, we have approximately 70 chapters throughout Tennessee with the opportunity to reach members through monthly programs, newsletters, and public events. 12:24:31 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Jan and Rebecca. Cecil is still not here; Amy is trying to help him. Let's take a couple of questions for either Jan or Rebecca while we are waiting for Cecil. Remember, input a ? and wait for recognition. 12:24:54 PM Avagene Moore:Questions for Jan or Rebecca? 12:25:40 PM Heidi Kramer:? 12:25:51 PM Avagene Moore:Yes, Heidi. 12:26:08 PM Heidi Kramer:Do you see AARP taking on more of an advocacy role in disaster education? 12:27:08 PM Heidi Kramer:Perhaps becoming a partner in the emergency planning process to ensure the needs of older americans can be met properly? 12:27:16 PM Rebecca Bundon:We have not discussed emergency assistance as an issue for the near future. However, we will always be able to encourage our members to respond locally and provide information through our networks. 12:27:39 PM Jan Weaver:I just wanted to add that the AARP web site is also an excellent source for additional information: www.aarp.org---and could be linked to appropriate disaster preparation sites. 12:27:56 PM Avagene Moore:Good point, Jan. 12:28:24 PM Anita Woltering:? //Anita Woltering 12:28:38 PM Avagene Moore:Anita Woltering, your question. 12:28:57 PM Rebecca Bundon:In the near future, AARP TN will have a web page through the Nashville Chamber of Commerce which will also link to the national web page. 12:29:51 PM Anita Woltering:We have had response from Nashville area AARP volunteers that they would be willing to participate in a project to assist TEMA in disasters. 12:30:17 PM isabel mccurdy:? 12:30:40 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca, would you please tell our audience about Anita and Gus who are online with us today? 12:30:46 PM chip hines:Hello to all. Its unusual for me to see another Cecil - thats my real name. 12:31:40 PM Heidi Kramer:? 12:31:44 PM Rebecca Bundon:Sure. Anita Woltering is our District Coordinator for the greater Nashville area and Bernard Gustafson is our State Coordinator for 55-Alive (safe driving classes). 12:31:54 PM Avagene Moore:(Cecil is online now. As soon as Rebecca responds to my question about Anita and Gus, and we take Isabel's question, we will let him speak.) 12:32:04 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks, Rebecca. Isabel. 12:32:56 PM isabel mccurdy:How many older Americans actually use the Internet? 12:33:37 PM Gus Gustafson:A good source of disaster planning is the Red Cross 12:33:54 PM Avagene Moore:Jan, Rebecca -- do either of you have those statistics? 12:34:06 PM Avagene Moore:I personally don't know. 12:34:26 PM Jan Weaver:I don't have an exact number or percentage at hand, but the number of older people using Internet is growing by leaps and bounds. 12:34:34 PM isabel mccurdy:Access to computers can be a problem. 12:34:56 PM Avagene Moore:Cecil, glad you made it. We have a couple of questions for you . .... 12:34:58 PM Jan Weaver:I'll be glad to look it up if Isabel would like to email me later. 12:35:06 PM Rebecca Bundon:Approximately 27"f AARP's 50 members have personal computers at home, but I'm not sure what percentage of these use Internet. My guess would be that most who have PCs at home use them for Internet purposes. 12:35:18 PM David Crews:Estimates of Internet usage is about 27% of Americans regularly use or have access. 12:35:32 PM Avagene Moore:Thanks, all. Now to Cecil.. 12:35:47 PM Avagene Moore:Cecil, the April 16 tornadoes that hit Nashville and several Tennessee counties, including my home county of Lawrence, were quite devastating and impacted many citizens, homes and businesses. I know this is a very busy time for you and TEMA. We trust the recovery is going well for the city and all the counties. ... 12:36:06 PM Avagene Moore:Since we are focusing on the elderly, did your agency encounter an unduly large number of problems that related to special population needs of the elderly in the community? 12:37:16 PM Rebecca Bundon:Clarification on my earlier comment - 27 percent of the 50 plus members (characters did not show up) pardon the interruption. 12:37:49 PM Avagene Moore:(No problem, Rebecca.) 12:38:17 PM chip hines:Hello to all. Its unusual for me to see another Cecil - thats my real name. 12:39:01 PM Avagene Moore:(Chip, for some reason, we have seen the same message from you 3 times.) Cecil, are you still with us? 12:39:47 PM Cecil Whaley:Hello to all from TEMA, I have just tried to download my answer to Avagene's first question but I apparently did not get through. 12:40:07 PM Avagene Moore:Just type it in if all else fails, Cecil. 12:40:46 PM Avagene Moore:Sorry you are having such trouble today. Copy and paste usually works fine. 12:41:06 PM Cecil Whaley:TEMA did expierence a real problem with helping the elderly due to the complicated paperwork which is with the assistance. 12:41:37 PM Avagene Moore: Can you give us other examples of the types of problems? Were resources available and plans in place for them? 12:42:06 PM Cecil Whaley:I think that TEMA has relied on the tele- registration system too much instead of the old personal one-to-one system.... 12:42:46 PM Cecil Whaley:Tele-registration is a great money saver for FEMA but it can never replace the outreach of actual workers... 12:43:58 PM Cecil Whaley:Our good friend Lacy Suiter has saved millions of dollars for the tax-payers by installing the tele-reg. system but I'm afraid that it has come at the expense of the elderly... 12:45:21 PM Cecil Whaley:Avagene knows that we are always looking for new ideas and concepts but we must never do so at the expense of those who have lost transportation or communications due to ageing problems. 12:46:01 PM Avagene Moore:Cecil, what about the elderly being asked to leave their homes during power outtages? 12:46:39 PM Avagene Moore:Was that a problems in Nashville? 12:46:58 PM Cecil Whaley:We were faced with hundreds of elderly who had no electricity or phone service for more than three weeks after the tornado.... 12:48:15 PM Cecil Whaley:What we did was contact the meals-on-wheels program (which was a new contact for us) and get all their lists and then contacted all the other social programs which had eye-toeye contact at home with the elderly... 12:49:30 PM Cecil Whaley:We then worked closely with the FEMA community relations group to send individual people directly to those homes and to repeat the visit until real contact was made and to see if they could talk them through the confusing paperwork to get benefits. 12:49:34 PM Avagene Moore:Have you had time to analyze whether or not more planning, training and public education related to elderly population needs are needed as result of this disaster experience? 12:50:38 PM Cecil Whaley:Yes, to a degree, we now know that we must expand the groups which we have monthly met with in our TNVOAD group which we have been so proud of... 12:51:40 PM Cecil Whaley:We know that we must reach out to AARP and Catholic Charities and other groups which do not ordinarily work with us on disaster recovery projects so that we can serve the elderly needs. 12:51:47 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Cecil. We have time for a couple of quick questions for Cecil. 12:51:53 PM Heidi Kramer:? 12:51:57 PM Avagene Moore:Heidi. 12:52:31 PM Heidi Kramer:Did you encounter problems meeting the needs of older people in shelters, how did you handle the frail elderly? 12:52:39 PM chip hines:? 12:52:42 PM Rebecca Bundon:? 12:53:36 PM Cecil Whaley:Unfortuneately, not enough people use the shelters which we open up, only 3 to 5 percent of the people who should come to the shelters actually appear. 12:53:56 PM Avagene Moore:Chip, your question please. 12:54:37 PM chip hines:I would have thought that teleregistration helped an older population in that it gives them more opportunities to register and avoids going out and waiting in lines. You didnt find this to be true? 12:54:50 PM Jan Weaver:? 12:55:34 PM Cecil Whaley:In some cases, yes, but in others it actually worked in reverse, some are reluctant to speak with those they do not know on the phone. 12:55:46 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca, your question now. 12:55:54 PM Rebecca Bundon:While I agree that the Meals on Wheels programs are some of the best contacts we have with older individuals, Stacy Martinez (a staffer with AARP and my technical assistant :) wondered if we could connect with census information to reach older individuals who are not linked with current services. 12:57:10 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca, is that a question or comment to Cecil? 12:57:23 PM Cecil Whaley:The census system is fine and we have it on computer but it is about ten years old now and with the population of elderly that is way to long, we are able to identfy large tracks that need help. 12:57:40 PM Avagene Moore:Jan, you are next. 12:57:45 PM Rebecca Bundon:A question to Cecil or any of the rest of you who have worked in this area for a while. 12:57:57 PM Jan Weaver:Were nursing homes and assisted living facilities affected by the tornadoes? 12:59:05 PM Anita Woltering:Anita Woltering? 12:59:06 PM Cecil Whaley:Yes, we had to evacuate one entire nursing home facility in East Nashville, we have good plans for this action and it went very well, we were able to put them into another facility very quickly. 12:59:35 PM Jan Weaver:? 12:59:40 PM Avagene Moore:Anita. And then we will have to hold other questions for the Virtual Forum room --- we are out of time in the EIIP Panel Room. ... 12:59:51 PM Avagene Moore:Anita, please. 01:00:24 PM Anita Woltering:Anita Woltering: Rebecca and Cecil...Should AARP be respresented on TVOAD? 01:01:15 PM Rebecca Bundon:I'm not familiar with that acronymn, but I think we're interested in more dialogue on how to reach older Tennesseans to make sure they're prepared next time and hooked in to the right systems for help. 01:01:24 PM Cecil Whaley:Absolutely, AARP could be one of the most effective members, I have never really considered it before this disaster. 01:01:35 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca, Jan and Cecil --- thank you for being here and sharing your perspective on the topic today. And thanks to you, the audience. We hope the session was informative for everyone. ... 01:01:52 PM Avagene Moore: If you have a question that was not addressed, please join us in the Virtual Forum Room where we will spend a few minutes informally with our speakers. Please move to the Virtual Forum now. Thank you! 01:02:11 PM Cecil Whaley:VOAD, stand stands for Volunteers Active in Disasters 01:02:45 PM Avagene Moore:Go to the Virtual Forum room using the same steps you did to come to this room. Thanks for the clarification, Cecil. Good job, everyone! 01:02:48 PM Rebecca Bundon:Thanks, Cecil. Let us know how to be involved. 259-2277. 01:03:20 PM Avagene Moore:Rebecca, Jan and Cecil, please hand around for just a short time in the other room. 01:03:30 PM Avagene Moore:The audience will want to thank you.