New Algorithm Enables Responders to Better Help Seniors During Natural Disasters

A new algorithm created by the University of Waterloo is designed to help first responders and home care providers better aid seniors during natural disasters, reports News-Medical . The algorithm uses data from the interRAI research network's home care assessment to produce an up-to-date list of vulnerable seniors using home care services. It accounts for disability, health status, social isolation, and the amount of support an individual may receive from informal caregivers. Eight Canadian provinces/territories already require the use of the interRAI assessment for long-stay home care clients, who are assessed every six to 12 months to determine their health status and service needs. "Older adults living on their own are more difficult to locate and assist than those living in healthcare communities," notes algorithm developer Sandy Van Solm, the Emergency Management Coordinator at the Region of Waterloo. "This algorithm helps us to plan for disasters in advance and allows responders to quickly generate an accurate list of those who may need help during a disaster." Van Solm and the University of Waterloo's John Hirdes are collaborating with the Canadian Institute for Health Information to implement the algorithm into interRAI home care software used across Canada beginning next year. "It has the potential to save hundreds of lives," Hirdes says. "It's a tool that should be top of mind for any part of the country at risk of natural disasters."