This project aims to enhance and transform the resilience of older adults in our communities during disasters – this population group is often severely impacted during large events due to the lack of effective triage, comfort, and care. Through the use of a smart-space platform called CareDEX, this effort will enable the assimilation and exchange of customized care information rapidly between first responders, caregivers in senior housing facilities, and older adults in a secure manner.

Disasters over the years have shown that a disproportionate number of older adults suffer fatalities and injuries during extreme events. A large number of older adults live in age-friendly communities and senior health facilities (SHFs) that promote independent living. During a crisis, older adults are often unable to shelter safely in place or evacuate on their own due to a range of physical conditions (need for life-sustaining equipment, impaired mobility) and cognitive afflictions (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer’s). Seamless access to information about the living facilities (e.g., floor plans, operational status, number of residents) and about the residents (e.g., health conditions such as need for dialysis, oxygen, personal objects to reduce anxiety) can empower first responders to improve response outcomes during disasters. Such information, typically held by caregivers and in the logs maintained by the organizations, is inaccessible and/or unavailable at the time of response.

CareDEX, empowers organizations to readily assimilate, ingest, store and exchange information, both apriori and in real-time, with response agencies to protect and care for the elderly in extreme events. Using CareDEX, SHFs are able to share information about an individual’s changing health conditions, their personalized needs and identify those in need of specialized triage and critical care. Given the sensitive nature of personal information, e.g., health profiles, ability status, CareDEX incorporates techniques to balance the need for individual privacy with the authorized release of information to responders when needed.

To address this complex problem, we assembled a large team of academic partners across various disciplines (Computer Science, Geriatric medicine, Nursing, Sociology), leaders in the Assisted Living Community, and First Responders across agencies including State and national disaster experts.