A recent online survey by AARP of older adults finds that less than a third (29%) say they have an emergency plan in case of a natural disaster. This can be an issue age- and dementia friendly communities can help address using, among other tools, AARP’s Disaster Resilience Toolkit.

As September is National Preparedness Month, AARP’s Livable Communities team also shared Main Street America’s Disaster Preparedness resources and Publications from Ready.gov.

Other key findings from the recent survey include the following:

• Most older adults (64%) have extra prescription medications on hand for an emergency
  but about 1 in 3 do not.
• Most older adults (59%) feel prepared to get through a natural disaster emergency, but few
  have taken steps to be prepared or actively informed during a natural disaster.
• Most (58%) are aware of disaster preparedness resources at the national level. FEMA
  (89%), Red Cross (86%), and the Salvation Army (72%) top the list. At the local level, local tv
  has the highest awareness (61%). Half are aware of state government resources (50%).

More information on this research is available here.