Preparedness for Older Americans

September 30 is National PrepareAthon! Day, the culmination of National Preparedness Month. During September, several federal agencies and national partners work to encourage preparedness activities across the country. Our colleagues at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) brought their perspectives on patient-centered care for America’s aging population to the Healthy Aging Summit, hosted by ODPHP this summer. ASPR published a blog post on the Summit and about their Emergency Care Coordination Center (ECCC), which leads the U.S. government’s efforts to drive change in the emergency care system. Read the post to learn more about the ECCC and ASPR’s work to improve care for older adults:

Mr. G is 92 years old. He’s at home Friday at 8 p.m. He suddenly feels nauseated, a tad dizzy, and a bit unsteady on his feet. He recalls when he felt like this before, the culprit was dehydration. But how can he be sure? His primary care doctor’s office is closed at this hour, so he calls 911. An ambulance takes him to the nearest emergency department (ED). After a few bags of IV fluid, the symptoms are gone, and he feels much better. Learn more