Va. fall festival focuses on emergency preparedness

By IRENE BOWERS
The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK, Va. — To prepare for disaster, try taking a deep breath.

From emergency planning to tai chi, peace of mind is the goal for the Hampton Roads Caregivers' Coalition's Fall Festival, which is returning to Norfolk after several years in Virginia Beach.

This 15th annual festival is open to professional caregivers, as well as those caring for family members at home. Registration deadline is Friday.

The festival aims to provide practical information to help caregivers during a public emergency.

"We are not being alarmist," said Mary Catherine Dziedziak, coalition chairperson. "Hurricanes in the Gulf, tornadoes in Suffolk - natural disasters remind us of the importance of having a complete plan in place."

Dziedziak said those who provide full-time care for others bear additional responsibility. "Caregivers are particularly vulnerable because they have to consider the medical and mental care of a dependent person in addition to everything else," she said.

The coalition was formed through the Virginia Department of Aging to address the needs of those who care for elderly or disabled adults in professional or non professional roles . The festival gives caregivers a day of support and encouragement, along with opportunities to learn about resources, such as AARP's "Prepare to Care: A Planning Guide for Families."

The event also will have an instructor from Bending Tree Tai Chi Kung, for a demonstration of calming movements. "Caregivers can learn this for themselves or share it with their dependent adult," Dziedziak said.

Erin Sutton, emergency planner for the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, will present the nuts and bolts of emergency preparation and evacuation planning. "We want to empower caregivers to make a plan for themselves because others are dependent upon the decisions they will make," she said. She note that area cities have emergency plans on Web sites that include factors such as neighborhood flood zones and evacuation routes. "Caregivers' plans must be really specific, accounting for medical equipment needs, special dietary needs, and whether or not their dependent adult can be transported," Sutton said.

Recovering from disasters is another part of preparedness. Madeline Dunstan, associate director of geriatrics education at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, said recovery and reconstruction after disasters are enhanced by good preparation . "My goal is to help the audience recognize the range of emotional responses to disasters and to discuss strategies to overcome the losses," she said.

Lawyer Karen Fortier will present "Welcome to the Twilight Zone," to explain why caregivers should properly prepare legal documents, and Barbara Pratt, a retired Adult Protective Services supervisor, will share her experiences of being a caregiver.

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