@article {8265, title = {Preparaci n de los adultos mayores en los Estados Unidos para hacer frente a los desastres naturales: encuesta a escala nacional}, journal = {American Journal of Public Health}, volume = {105}, year = {2015}, pages = {S614}, publisher = {105}, abstract = {We sought to determine natural disaster preparedness levels among older US adults and assess factors that may adversely affect health and safety during such incidents. We sampled adults aged 50 years or older (n = 1304) from the 2010 interview survey of the Health and Retirement Study. The survey gathered data on general demographic characteristics, disability status or functional limitations, and preparedness-related factors and behaviors. We calculated a general disaster preparedness score by using individual indicators to assess overall preparedness. Participant (n = 1304) mean age was 70 years (SD = 9.3). Only 34.3 reported participating in an educational program or reading materials about disaster preparation. Nearly 15 reported using electrically powered medical devices that might be at risk in a power outage. The preparedness score indicated that increasing age, physical disability, and lower educational attainment and income were independently and significantly associated with worse overall preparedness. Despite both greater vulnerability to disasters and continuous growth in the number of older US adults, many of the substantial problems discovered are remediable and require attention in the clinical, public health, and emergency management sectors of society.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Public Policy}, doi = {10.2105/AJPH.2013.301559s}, author = {Tala M. Al-rousan and Linda M. Rubenstein and Robert B Wallace} } @article {6464, title = {Preparedness for natural disasters among older US adults: a nationwide survey.}, journal = {Am J Public Health}, volume = {104}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Mar}, pages = {506-11}, chapter = {506}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine natural disaster preparedness levels among older US adults and assess factors that may adversely affect health and safety during such incidents.

METHODS: We sampled adults aged 50 years or older (n = 1304) from the 2010 interview survey of the Health and Retirement Study. The survey gathered data on general demographic characteristics, disability status or functional limitations, and preparedness-related factors and behaviors. We calculated a general disaster preparedness score by using individual indicators to assess overall preparedness.

RESULTS: Participant (n = 1304) mean age was 70 years (SD = 9.3). Only 34.3\% reported participating in an educational program or reading materials about disaster preparation. Nearly 15\% reported using electrically powered medical devices that might be at risk in a power outage. The preparedness score indicated that increasing age, physical disability, and lower educational attainment and income were independently and significantly associated with worse overall preparedness.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite both greater vulnerability to disasters and continuous growth in the number of older US adults, many of the substantial problems discovered are remediable and require attention in the clinical, public health, and emergency management sectors of society.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Disaster Planning, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1541-0048}, doi = {10.2105/AJPH.2013.301559}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301559}, author = {Tala M. Al-rousan and Linda M. Rubenstein and Robert B Wallace} } @article {6825, title = {Linking clinical variables to health-related quality of life in Parkinson{\textquoteright}s disease.}, journal = {Parkinsonism Relat Disord}, volume = {8}, year = {2002}, month = {2002 Jan}, pages = {199-209}, publisher = {8}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Identify the point-in-time relationship between Parkinson{\textquoteright}s disease (PD) signs and symptoms and measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL).

BACKGROUND: Clinical measures used in PD assessments traditionally emphasize physical signs and symptoms. We hypothesized that these measures would be strongly associated with the physical function dimensions of HRQL that reflect mental symptoms.

DESIGN/METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 193 neurology clinic PD patients employed self-administered in-clinic and take-home questionnaires and in-person clinical examinations and interviews.

RESULTS: The variance explained by PD physical signs and symptoms was substantial for physical function, but only modest for all other HRQL dimensions. Mental symptoms explained a larger proportion of variance than physical symptoms for 12 of the 14 HRQL measures.

CONCLUSION: PD patients{\textquoteright} well-being, general health perceptions, health satisfaction and overall HRQL are strongly influenced by mental health symptoms and more weakly influenced by physical symptoms. Clinical evaluation of PD patients should include mental health and self-reported HRQL assessment.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Parkinson Disease, Quality of Life}, issn = {1353-8020}, doi = {10.1016/s1353-8020(01)00044-x}, author = {Elizabeth A Chrischilles and Linda M. Rubenstein and Voelker, Margaret D. and Robert B Wallace and Rodnitzky, Robert L.} }